Puzzle Makers

I am not good at doing puzzles.  I really really don't like to do them.  For the last couple years we've been noticing Victoria not only likes doing them but she's really really good.  Way better than I am. 

Christian got a puzzle from Jack for his birthday that's pretty tricky.  But V  wanted the challenge.

He's happy and he doesn't even have all the pieces!

We bring puzzles into restaurants to keep them busy.  That's when V sits by Mark.

Because I really can't help her if she really needs it.

I'm not good at puzzles, but I sure am glad they are!

No Pneumonia

Christian doesn't have pneumonia.  They don't know what it is.  We/they're hoping the antibiotics knock it out or we'll be in for more tests on Tuesday.

Off to take V to the doc for an ear infection.

The fun never ends.

Hoping for Pneumonia

If I would have blogged Monday night (which I wanted to, but I a book had been waiting for for months finally arrived and I read instead) it would have gone something like this:

I took tomorrow off to bring Christian to the doctor.  He's been coughing more and more again.  We know someone who may have whooping cough so we're bringing him in just to be sure.  I feel completely calm about it and doubt if they'll even give him medication.

Little did I know the appt. would actually go like this:

We had to go to a completely different clinic than usual, let alone a different pediatrician.  Change is never fun for little ones.  Victoria and Christian had each earned a trip to the Dollar Strore the previous day.  So in the waiting room they had a great time playing with their rubber snakes.  I read.  No problem.  Not nervous at all.  They call his name and in we go. 

One listen to his lungs the doctor got vey serious and started asking tons of questions and looking up his medical history.  He said, "He needs chest x-rays right now."  We all got up and went straight there.  He even wrote Christian's name, since I was holding him and they took us immediately. 

While the nice lady was setting it all up I texted Mark.  Christian was standing there with no shirt on.  A band of hanging lead around his waste to proctecting his male parts from radiation I would assume.  Following the directions pefectly with his arms streetched as wide as they could go to hold on the the big machine with his chest pressed to it and he not only held his breath when told to, he smiled while they 'took the picture.'  It was a very forced smile but it was a smile non-the less.  Every x-ray he smiled for.  It was adorable.  He, later, proudly showed off his I Was Brave and Got An X-Ray sticker to all his friends.

We had to wait about 20 min. for the doctor and the x-rays (during which time, of course, Victoria had to poop.  I swear she loves to go #2 in public places! As if I'm not stressed out enough!). 

Then the whole appointment really went south. 

The doctor and I looked at the x-rays.  Right away, even I, knew it wasn't good.  The bottom of both lungs were really white. (Usually means fluid)

The doctor was perplexed because Christian has been acting pretty much fine & without a fever.  Unusual for pneumonia.  He treated him for pneumonia but sent the x-rays on to radiology to make sure it's 'not something bigger.'  I do not even like the word radiology.

We're waiting to hear from radiology.  I can barely function hoping and praying pneumonia is what it is and the Azithromax will take care of it.

Tears Before the Fun

I decided last Sunday it would be a good idea to put Christian in the preschool Sunday School class this year instead of patiently waiting until the fall so he could be in the same class with Victoria for a couple months at least.  One of the perks of also being a Sunday School teacher.

They've both been talking about it all week.  Finally, Sunday morning rolled around and they were both pumped and got their cute little outfits.  V and I have told Christian all about it.  As we were driving there he started asking how far away my room would be from him.  That can't be good.  So we swung by Target and picked up some chocolate chunk cookies to celebrate his first day.  We went in.  Everyone was in high spirits.

It came time to bring them to opening to sing their songs.  Victoria hopped (literally) right in and started introducing her little friends to her little brother.  That was difficult though, since little brother was still in the hallway attached to mommy's right leg crying so hard snot was running down his face.  I had several ideas of what to do. . .but I had a class to teach.  So off we went.  Christian sat through 45 minutes of listening to me teach about transfiguartion to 4-6 graders.  He was silently perched on my lap with his head on my chest. 

Then I took out the cookies (I bought some for my class to).  Suddenly he's perked up and has a ring of chocolate around his little lips.

When I took my class to closing the preschoolers were finishing up their lesson.
Christian and I sat in and watched.  Then Kelley, the teacher took out the cookies.  Well, well, guess who perked right up again.  So I slid his own chair next to his sister, told him I'd be back in three minutes, then watched him through the window. 

Before the door even clicked shut he was laughing and coloring with the other kids.  Hmmmmm. . .I left him there until the time was up.  He was just fine and asked this morning if we have Sunday School today.



Last Monday when I told Christian we were going to the gym and he cried, really hard.

What I didn't want to have happen was be pulled out of my class because he wouldn't stop crying.  I swung by Great Grandma's and let him play there for a couple hours while the rest of us went to the gym. 

Today we knew his cousins were going to be at the gym and said he wanted to go.  We got there - tears.  He saw his cousins, who had a lot of fun playing with just yesterday, and the tears kept going.  I had to walk him through the door and basically run away from him listening to him whail. 

I kept my eye on the door waiting for the lady to come and get me.  Which had happened before.

An hour later I went back down there.  There he was running around as happy as can be in a new, too large, t-shirt.  He said, "I crying so tall lady give me this shirt like a blankie.  Then I happy.  I play!"

Yep, looks like I need to force him a whole lot more.

Ten Years Ago

Ten years ago today it was a Sunday.

I taught Sunday School that morning.

I visited my, then, 14 year old friend Nicole for her birthday.  She french braided my hair, which she loved to do.

I went out with my roommate that night.  Every bar was closing early because it was a Sunday.

Our third try we hit the jackpot.  A little dive bar on the Eastside.  We didn't care.  It was somewhere to hang out for a few hours before heading back to River Falls. 

I pulled in and we got out of my car.  We were talking about something - probably "Wow, we sure are desperate for something to do tonight if we're going in here." ;)

Before I got to the door I saw a guy sitting at the bar.  I stopped, literally stopped, and looked at him.
I said, "Look at him.  I'm going to marry him."  Sara laughed and we went in.

This guy was so cute I was nervous to talk to him.  He eventually started talking to me and ultimately asked for my phone number.  I seriously thought, "Is he joking?  Did Sara tell him to ask me or something?"

One thing led to another and we've been together ever since that day.

Ten years ago, today, I met my husband.

Mark knew me before I was a mommy and wife and even a teacher. 

He knew me as a college student, a Sportsman's Guide employee, and a girl who loved to have a good time.

We fell in love very fast.

It was love at first sight. 

In ten years we've grown so much as individuals and as a couple. 

We moved in together while I was still in college.  He held me when I received my first and only D and bawled my eyes out realizing I would be retaking Teaching Diversity that summer.  He moved with me to Therese and Terry's basement so I could help watch Jonnie while Therese traveled for work.  He fixed my old car when it broke.  He smiled at me at my graduation.  He hugged and cheered for me when my dream came true: my first real teaching job.  He kneeled down and asked me to marry him at Minnehaha Falls.  He helped me plan our gorgeous wedding.

Then he and I became WE. 

We bought our first home together. 

We had our baby girl just over a year later. 

He proudly watched me receive my Master's the same day we found out we were expecting again. 

He held my hand and cheered me on through the very quick natural delivery of our son. 

We have held hands while walking down beaches in Mexico. 

We have had extrememly long conversations about how much we love our family and our hopes and dreams for our futures. 

We pray with our children every night.

No matter what, we are a team. 

So much has happened in the last ten years.  So much has changed in the last ten years.  Somehow, it keeps getting better.  Even if we're just watching a movie.  Even if we're out and I'm dancing and he's hanging back talking, we're a team. 

Mark, I can't imagine my life without you.  I don't know who I'd be without you.  I'm thankful for you everyday.  I can recall that night ten years ago so clearly.  It seems so recent.  But it also seems like a lifetime ago. 

I wonder what the next ten years has in store for us.  No matter what, I'm lucky to have you by my side through it all.

Happy "anniversary."

Love,
YW

Quotes from the Kids

All these are from the last few weeks.  And this is just what I can remember off the top of my head!

V: Mom, you know when I was only this big (pointer and thumb less than an inch apart) in your belly.
M: Yes.
V: Did I pop out of your mouth... or something like that?
M: Something like that.
Conversation quickly switched.

C: Why you put broccoli on the windows?
M: What?
C: (pointing to the window clings on the kitchen windows) See right there! Broccoli!
M: Those are shamrocks honey.

I just walked in from getting my hair cut and colored.
C: Mommy, you soooo pretty!
M: Sigh - That's my boy!

Christian had only been awake for about five minutes when he comes to me holding a Bam Bam costume.
C: Mommy, put his on me.
M: You need to take off your jammies, throw away your diaper and go potty, then I will help you put that on.
He took off his jammies, threw away his diaper, went potty and returned.
C: What gonna hold my penis now?!?
M: How about some underwear!?!
C: OH!  with a huge smile

M: What did you learn about in chapel today? (at preschool)
V: The same old thing.
M: What does that mean? 
V: Jesus fed 5,000 men AGAIN!  Just like he did on Sunday. (from Sunday School)
M: Did you say you already knew that lesson? (hoping she is the kind of polite child who just sat there and listened anyway)
V: Oh yeah I told him!  He said since I am so smart I got to eat snack all by myself while the other kids listened to the story.
M: Really?!  How did that make you feel?
V: GREAT!!

Christian has recently gotten some new fireman galloshes.  He was running around the living room with them and a fireman helmet in his jammies.

C: If there's a fire you can call 119 for me. Ok mommy?
M: Sounds like a plan buddy.

While bathing together last night:
M: It's a double wash night because tomorrow is Victoria's picture day.
Wash those wrists. Wash those ankles.  Scrub those toes.  etc.
C: I wash my penis.  (standing up - all smiles)
He's slapping soap all around it.
M:  Ok buddy it's clean.
V: No it's not!  He forgot to wash his acorn!

V: Do you know what will be the best part about going to kindergarten?
M: There's so many good things.  What will be the best?
V: Being with you all day.

Poopy on the Potty!! - Life's Small Miracle

The day after Christian turned three, January 29, 2011, I took away his diapers.  He only got to wear a diaper for nap and at nighttime.  This didn't go as easy as I expected.  Day one he had several accidents.  Day two he cried about wanting to wear his diaper.  Begging and prmoising not to 'use' it.  I wasn't budging.

He'd go every time I'd put him on the toilet, but constantly putting him on there is quite exhausting throughout a day.  Which explains the 2-4 accidents a day he had at daycare that first week.  I received a bag full of wet underwear, pants and socks everyday when I arrived.   Just what I wanted when I got done with work.

I knew this would pass. 

Every week there were fewer and fewer accidents.

Days without an accident became so routine that a day with an accident was news.

However, he would still hide and poop in his underwear or wait until nap and go in his diaper. 

Until yesterday.  In true depserate parent fashion I purchased some really cool toys as bribery right when all this began.  Finally, yesterday the boy pooped on the toilet!!  He's tried many many times but he's never actually accomplished it.  When he realized it was really going to happen (while sitting on the toilet with his big sister standing in front of him cheering him on - weird but true) he said, "Mommy, go get my present!"  Before I came back - Mission Accomplished!

He was so proud of himself!!  Victoria was jumping up and down.  He immediately fell in love with his Mickey Mouse train even before the batteries were put in.  He said, "I tell Kris when I go to her house!"

He tried several more times throughout the evening in hopes of unveiling more gifts, I'm sure.

Hopefully, we're on to a whole new phase here!