Oregon Part 3

Our camping adventure will begin on Wednesday. For now we are hanging out at grandma and grandpa's. The boys are having so much fun exploring the backyard and watching the waterfall and birds. Here are some pictures from the past couple days!

 Saturday evening when we arrived.

 I think we are all in love with the backyard! So many flowers and birds and a garden to explore!

 Sunday morning before and after church

Monday morning at the park

The park was beautiful. It was full of trees and right off the bike path. The boys were fascinated with the real train that they got to go inside and explore.

all the boys in their iguana shirts

and lastly a few phone pics.

 lucas was so excited to be inside the train.

 goodness how I love my sweet boys!

 more trains ;)

It feels so nice to be away from home for a bit and just spending time with family!

Oregon Part 2

Things started out so smoothly. Almost too smooth. I'd say at least every trip something really hard comes up. Whether it is sickness (last time) Sleep issues (last summer camping trip) Road Troubles (Christmas a couple years ago and a 3 hr delay) or whatnot it seems we can't have a trip without some sort of surprise. Our surprise happened yesterday (and I hope and pray it is our only surprise this trip)

Before I go on and post all our fun pics I'll start with our scary incident that happened our first day here. The boys slept great Saturday night and woke up in good spirits Sunday. After a beautiful mass (I really loved the homily and it is funny how it is exactly what I needed to hear for what was to come) We came home and the boys were snacking in the kitchen with D and gma. I was reading a book and the boys were testing out some trail mix. I heard something about "can lucas have nuts?" and in my head I had this thought maybe not since you just never know (choking...is what I was thinking) but I figured oh well, he will be fine and d said it was fine anyway. Something told me I should get up and join the kitchen and so I came over to join them and looked at Lucas. He just didn't look right. I thought at first he was choking so we tipped him upside down and he was getting fussy, he was acting as though something was caught in his throat. He kept swallowing. We tried to give him water and milk and get him to eat some ice cream since that is smooth but he didn't want anything. At that point I thought maybe a nut went down the wrong way. He seemed okay but just not 100% happy. Dave took him and was holding him when next thing we know he's throwing up. This was a good thing we thought; thinking it's out now. But then I noticed his chin was red. Looking back I know God was just guiding me through in what I needed to do because I don't remember thinking much just reacting as if everything was slow motion around me. I got the Benadryl since it seemed like now maybe it was more than just a nut choked on. I told d we needed to call the nurse line. D called while I tried to calm lucas down and then I took to the phone so I could talk to the nurse. After describing what had happened she recommended calling 911 since it sounded like an allergic reaction. I immediately hung up and dialed 911. The dispatcher said we could go to urgent care or they would send an ambulance. Thankfully urgent care was close so we headed over. At that point lucas was getting sleepy and thankfully the rash was only on his chin. Sweet caleb of course wanted to come so d and I and D's mom headed over with a sleepy lucas in the seat.

While there I was amazed by the sweet nurse who came right out to check on Lucas. He threw up all over himself and me and then that's when the rash got worse. By the time we left urgent care he had full blown hives all over his body. The dr. was great and really thorough. They checked his oxygen and his breathing was normal (thank goodness) we were prescribed an eip pen (for it happens again) and told to have him tested for tree nut allergies (we think it was the cashew he had eaten from the trail mix). The dr. told us how severe it can be if it happens again (if he happens to have a nut again and he's allergic more than likely his reaction will be much worse and his airway can close up; that's where the epi pen comes in and we would call 911 right away; though we are staying clear of nuts obviously and will be getting him tested as soon as we are home) It's funny how fast your world can come crashing down. Until we know what exactly his allergy is we are avoiding all nuts. (up until yesterday he had never had a cashew before but had tried an almond and walnuts) We went home after they gave him another dose of Benadryl and gave him topical Benadryl which helped with the hives. Today he is hive free and has been happy as a clam. I'm so thankful we reacted quickly; I know God kept me strong and quick in reacting to what could have been a much worse situation. I really feel like the angels were holding him close in their arms yesterday.. While my heart broke to see him so uncomfortable I'm just so thankful that his breathing remained normal and that urgent care was only minutes away. 

here is our sweet boy, soundly sleeping in my arms at urgent care. Kissing my boys and holding them a little tighter.

Oregon Trip Part 1

The car ride.

Here's how we make a 12 hour (each way) car ride work for us (technology free)

we bring...

 a lot of books and toys and activities for the boys. Highlights this trip were the books on CD (this is my favorite since the library has a nice selection and the boys love listening to the stories as they follow along in their books)

 stringing (I found these at ross for only a few dollars and they kept the boys busy for a long time!)

 Lucas loves trains. Loves them.

 And of course our trick was every time we stopped we would 'run' the boys out. We played hide and seek with them and they just ran and ran. By the time they got back in the car they were winded and happy to play quietly for a bit.

The car ride went really well. Caleb does great in the car now that he is older and while lucas usually doesn't like having to sit for so long, he did pretty good this time. I'm glad we can make it work without using DVDs or IPADs or phones for entertainment (although sometimes we do listen to music on my phone, we didn't this time around) I like to keep it simple in the car and I'm glad toys, books, coloring paper, crayons, music, and a special goody bag filled with special things (from the dollar store) can keep the boys happy and entertained in the car all day!

my sleeping angels.

 

*I picked up a slinky, silly puddy, squishy ball, coloring paper and crayons, and a few other things at the dollar store. It was such a steal and each boy got a bag filled with stuff to use for when they needed something that was distracting. I also just love the library and the selection of books on CD! A lot of the books have music and songs at the end. Having different books for the car ride make it fun. So if you're headed for a long drive with little ones these are just a few tricks that work for us!

 

We made it safe and in good spirits to Oregon!

 

I'd say the drive up was one of our better drives. (last trip was freezing cold and lucas had explosive poo blowouts all along the way; while teething which made for a fussy ride. We've had plenty of hard car rides in the past so it is nice to have easy ones every now and then!)

happy friday!

I wanted to share this letter a friend posted on facebook.

 Happy Friday! Spending the day packing and cleaning and excited for our camping trip. Also hoping my little men are okay in the car and that sleep happens for my firstborn (and that the meltdowns are in the low range) I never know what to expect when we travel but I feel like no matter how hard and exhausting it is, the moments and memories we come home with are worth it all.


Dear Mom,

I've seen you around. I've seen you screaming at your kids in public, I've seen you ignoring them at the playground, I've seen you unshowered and wearing last night's pajama pants at preschool drop-off. I've seen you begging your children, bribing them, threatening them. I've seen you shouting back and forth with your husband, with your mom, with the police officer at the crosswalk.

I've seen you running around with your kids, getting dirty and occasionally swearing audibly when you bang a knee. I've seen you sharing a milkshake with a manic 4-year-old. I've seen you wiping your kids' boogers with your bare palm, and then smearing them on the back of your jeans. I've seen you carry your toddler flopped over the crook of your arm while chasing a runaway ball.

I've also seen you gritting your teeth while your kid screamed at you for making him practice piano, or soccer, or basket weaving or whatever it was. I've seen you close your eyes and breathe slowly after finding a gallon of milk dumped into your trunk. I've seen you crying into the sink while you desperately scrub crayon off your best designer purse. I've seen you pacing in front of the house.

I've seen you at the hospital waiting room. I've seen you at the pharmacy counter. I've seen you looking tired and frightened.

I've seen a lot of you, actually.

I see you every single day.

I don't know if you planned to be a parent or not. If you always knew from your earliest years that you wanted to bring children into the world, to tend to them, or if motherhood was thrust upon you unexpectedly. I don't know if it meets your expectations, or if you spent your first days as a mom terrified that you would never feel what you imagined "motherly love" would feel like for your child. I don't know if you struggled with infertility, or with pregnancy loss, or with a traumatic birth. I don't know if you created your child with your body, or created your family by welcoming your child into it.

But I know a lot about you.

I know that you didn't get everything that you wanted. I know that you got a wealth of things you never knew you wanted until they were there in front of you. I know that you don't believe that you're doing your best, that you think you can do better. I know you are doing better than you think.

I know that when you look at your child, your children, you see yourself. And I know that you don't, that you see a stranger who can't understand why the small details of childhood that were so important to you are a bother to this small person who resembles you.

I know that you want to throw a lamp at your teenager's head sometimes. I know you want to toss your 3-year-old out the window once in a while.

I know that some nights, once it's finally quiet, you curl up in bed and cry. I know that sometimes, you don't, even though you wanted to.

I know that some days are so hard that all you want is for them to end, and then at bedtime your children hug you and kiss you and tell you how much they love you and want to be like you, and you wish the day could last forever.

But it never does. The day always ends, and the next day brings new challenges. Fevers, heartbreak, art projects, new friends, new pets, new fights. And every day you do what you need to do.

You take care of things, because that's your job. You go to work, or you fill up the crock pot, or you climb into the garden, or strap the baby to your back and pull out the vacuum cleaner.

You drop everything you're doing to moderate an argument over whose turn it is to use a specifically colored marker, or to kiss a boo-boo, or to have a conversation about what kind of lipstick Pinocchio's Mommy wears.

I know that you have tickle fights in blanket forts, and that you have the words to at least eight different picture books memorized. I've heard that you dance like a wild woman when it's just you and them. That you have no shame about farting or belching in their presence, that you make up goofy songs about peas and potatoes and cheese.

I know that an hour past bedtime, you drop what you're doing and trim the fingernail that your 3-year-old insists is keeping her up. I know that you stop cleaning dishes because your kids insist you need to join their tea party. I know you fed your kids PB&J for four days straight when you had the flu. I know that you eat leftover crusts over the sink while your kids watch "Sponge Bob."

I know you didn't expect most of this. I know you didn't anticipate loving somebody so intensely, or loathing your post-baby body so much, or being so tired or being the mom you've turned out to be.

You thought you had it figured out. Or you were blind and terrified. You hired the perfect nanny. Or you quit your job and learned to assemble flat-packed baby furniture. You get confused by the conflict of feeling like nothing has changed since you were free and unfettered by children, and looking back on the choices you made as though an impostor was wearing your skin.

You're not a perfect mom. No matter how you try, no matter what you do. You will never be a perfect mom.

And maybe that haunts you. Or maybe you've made peace with it. Or maybe it was never a problem to begin with.

No matter how much you do, there is always more. No matter how little you do, when the day is over, your children are still loved. They still smile at you, believing you have magical powers to fix almost anything. No matter what happened at work, or at school, or in playgroup, you have still done everything in your power to ensure that the next morning will dawn and your children will be as happy, healthy, and wise as could possibly be hoped.

There's an old Yiddish saying: "There is one perfect child in the world, and every mother has it."

Unfortunately, there are no perfect parents. Your kids will grow up determined to be different than you. They will grow up certain that they won't make their kids take piano lessons, or they'll be more lenient, or more strict, or have more kids, or have fewer, or have none at all.

No matter how far from perfect you are, you are better than you think.

Someday your kids will be running around like crazy people at synagogue and concuss themselves on a hand rail, and somebody will still walk up to you and tell you what a beautiful family you have. You'll be at the park and your kids will be covered in mud and jam up to the elbows, smearing your car with sugary cement, and a pregnant lady will stop and smile at you wistfully.

No matter how many doubts you might have, you never need doubt this one thing: You are not perfect.

And that's good. Because really, neither is your child. And that means nobody can care for them the way you can, with the wealth of your understanding and your experience. Nobody knows what your child's squall means, or what their jokes mean, or why they are crying better than you do.

And since no mother is perfect, chances are you are caught in a two billion way tie for
Best Mom in the World.

Congratulations, Best Mom in the World. You're not perfect.
You are as good as anybody can get.

*Sarah*

and while this isn't mentioned in the letter I think thankfully in being a mom I've got D who really is our rock and God, who guides us and leads us. I think having God on our side makes all the difference in being a mom and I believe He is glorified through our daily struggles and joys.

P.S. I'm so excited for our next study in bible study. I just ordered the book today!

via amazon.

"Ruth's journey of unbearable loss, redeeming love, and divine legacy comes alive in Kelly Minter's Ruth: Loss, Love and Legacy-the second study in the Living Room Series. This 6-week Bible study delves into the virtuous character of Ruth, her unique relationship with her mother-in-law Naomi, and her blossoming love with Boaz. If you've ever felt devastated, struggled as a stranger, longed to be loved, or wept along the way, you'll find a loyal sister in Ruth. This study includes stories, recipes, a leader guide, interactive Web site extras, and free bonus videos."

images via time warp wife on fb

Happy Weekend!!

a morning play date with our sweet friends (big brother has twin brothers who are three months old) I love how sweet the boys are together when they play!

summer is here.

this week has been warm. early morning is crisp and cool and the evenings are hot and sweaty. hello summer. welcome.

 Lucas, you are such a devout little gardener. You stand there with your hose for a long time (forever if we let you) and you water away. You water each plant carefully like daddy taught you. Every time I watch you I smile big. You are just as studious with your trains. I love your concentration and determination with everything you do. As I write this you are singing away in your crib, I love listening to your happy sounds as you drift off to sleep.

This is our second year planting sunflowers and wow. I just can't get over how huge they get! I feel like cheerful is growing in our garden and I love it :)

 Tonight we packed up dinner and brought a blanket and the boys' Thomas chairs and plopped ourselves down in the heat that we almost didn't notice as we watched the rodeo parade. Caleb was beyond excited to go to the parade. The fire trucks, tractors, police cars, and pretty dancers were favorites for the boys

 lucas loved waving to everyone that went by.

 my mom is here for the week. we are in heaven!

 9 weeks.

· How far along? 9 weeks 4 days

· Total weight gain: scared to check :/ lost three pounds as of last week but I’ve been feeling a little  better this week so I’ve probably gained it all back. my stomach feels huge already!

· Maternity clothes? Nope. But am down to fitting in one pair of jeans and had to buy some yoga pants. Wearing dresses on the daily. I’m gonna be pulling out the maternity clothes soon I’m sure.

· Stretch marks? No. And hopefully won’t ever get them. Didn’t have them with the boys.

· Sleep: Just waking up to pee nightly.

· Best moment this week: Probably it was last week seeing the baby during the ultrasound. And eating d’s homemade ollalieberry pie almost every night this week!

· Miss Anything? Feeling not nauseous

· Movement: not yet.

· Food cravings: anything fruit. sweet fruit and orange juice. yum.

· Food aversions: blah. Mostly anything that smells that is cooked. It’s still hard to be in the kitchen (I breathe through my mouth) and dinner time is still the one meal I usually eat cereal for. Fresh sandwiches, cold cereal and fruit are top favorites right now

· Gender: Not finding out (but my guess is another boy!)

· Labor Signs: I’ll be lucky if I experience any this time around since the boys were induced

· Symptoms: nauseous (mostly just in the evening time now or if I get hungry) headaches, and plenty of bathroom trips

· Belly Button in or out? In

· Wedding rings on or off? On

· Looking forward to: The second trimester, baby kicks, and feeling 100% nauseous free (seriously my least favorite part of pregnancy)

So excited it's almost the weekend! Getting ready for a week of camping in Oregon with family :) just in time to escape the heat wave we are getting hit with over here.