Sharing the News

My two sweeties are so thrilled about their new baby! And I'm thrilled they are finally feeling better after these last few days of this awful respiratory flu. They hadn't done much more than lay around in their pjs for the past 3 days. I'm thankful I didn't catch what they have because having the flu on top of this "morning" sickness (which is actually afternoon/evening sickness) would be horrible!

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, so as a special surprise for Grandma Debby, I had the boys make her some cards announcing our exciting news to give her this morning when they saw her. Elijah made 2 cards. This one...

which he did all by himself. I helped cut out the hearts. I love that he wrote "We have a baby in mom's tummy." How precious is he? I love that kid!

He made another one that folds like a book and has several pages. It says "Roses are red (turn the page), Violets are blue (turn the page), Coming in September... (turn the page) Our baby is due! (turn the page) And on the last page he pasted the ultrasound picture onto a heart that you pull down like a flap.

She WAS surprised too. She was reading along, turning the pages, and stammered out when she got to "OUR BABY IS DUE???", looked over at me (I nodded), screamed again "OUR BABY IS DUE! IN SEPTEMBER?! Oh my! You're going to be a big brother again!". As she hugged and congratulated Elijah, then Zeke, then me. Dad figured out what was going on before long and was very happy too. There was a lot of chaos, and loud talking, and questions, and then the thing I knew was coming. Mom's "hilarious" question "Sarah, you do know how this happens, right?". Hm, no. I didn't. I'm a 36 year old married woman with two children, but I have NO idea how babies are made. Why don't we sit down and you can explain the details. Grr. But other than that obtuse remark, all is well and happy with the parents, I think.

After work I took the boys over to Grandma Theresa's house and we told them too. Elijah was the one who got to tell this time and it took him three tries before she understood. She just stared blankly at him the first 2 times he said "My mom is going to have a baby."  Finally she got it and her face lit up with recognition. She smiled and said "Really? Oh boy!", looked at me for confirmation and I nodded. She and grandpa were both happy for us. A bit shocked, but happy.

So, now that the cat's out of the bag I feel better. I hate keeping secrets like this. It's too much stress. Plus, now I don't have to hide how sick I feel. 

The Announcement

Today is Manny's birthday! Happy 37th, honey. Unfortunately it wasn't very happy for him because he was S.I.C.K. He stayed home from work yesterday and today. It kind of worked out nicely for me that he was home today because the boys are also sick (terrible coughs, fevers, and body aches) and I had a doctor's appointment this morning. I was wondering how I would avoid spreading their germs to everyone in the office.

I was so nervous about the ultrasound. With this spotting I've been having, I was absolutely convinced that they would look and not find a baby. But thankfully, all is well. Baby is measuring 7 weeks + 1 day. And the heart rate was perfectly on target (I think 144 bpm). It was one of the sweetest things I've seen in a long time, that little flashing, beating heart. Amazing! Honestly, I don't remember being this astonished when seeing my boys'. But I never was so nervous with those pregnancies either.

But here's something funny & slightly bothersome... my Dr. informed me that since I fall within the category of "advanced maternal age" (AKA, an OLD MOM. I'll be near my 37th birthday when the baby is born) I can have some additional tests run. I won't have any of the tests done, but I'm not loving this new label. It makes me feel old!

So, with the relief that everything is fine I felt like it's a good time for us to tell the boys the news.
Tonight we sat them down on the couch and told them we have a big surprise for them. Manny took a video while I sat beside them and told them. "Guys, remember how I went to the doctor today? Well, she told me that we're going to have a baby. The doctor took a special picture inside my tummy so you can see the baby." And I showed them the ultrasound picture.

I had to repeat myself a few times because they both sat there kind of shocked for a second. Elijah was the first to react. He was so happy! He kept saying "I can't believe you're going to have a baby!"  Next we asked what their guess was, is it going to be a boy or a girl? Elijah says girl without hesitation. Zeke says boy, but he might change his mind. Elijah wants a little sister so bad! Zeke doesn't really understand, but he's happy too because we're happy. I love Elijah's curiosity and excitement about this. He hasn't stopped asking questions. He keeps putting his hands on my belly and asking if I can feel the baby yet. He made me promise to tell him the moment I feel anything. Every few minutes he says "I just can't believe you're going to have a baby!"  It's sweet because I can tell he's thinking about it a lot. He has already asked to be in the room when the baby is born. This is yet to be determined.

Snowvember 2014

The first snow of the season this year came in November. And it was a surprise to the boys! So when they woke up and saw the white fluffy stuff covering the ground they threw their coats and boots on over their pjs and ran out the door. They were only out for half an hour, but they had fun. 

Afterward they came in and drank hot chocolate and then we made crafts because I got to take a snow day too. (Thanks Mom!)

Popcicle sticks and glue = snowflakes!

Oh yeah, we broke out the glitter too!

It was cold, but beautiful. And I hope we don't have any more! :)

My Boys on a Campout

There is this fabulous tradition for the men at our church. Each spring they have a father-son campout on the church property. Yesterday afternoon, lots of the dads (mostly with young sons) set up tents in the empty (large) lot, build a big ol' fire, haul in heavy machinery for fun, and prepare for a night of excitement! This year was Zeke's first year getting to go!!! I think I was just as happy for the guys as they were that they got to spend a whole night with their Daddy doing guy stuff. They cooked out on the fire, ate lots of junk food, played music, drank soda and lots of sugar-filled juice drinks, shot automatic weapons (thanks to Jacob Talor and his SWAT awesomeness!), dug with a REAL life excavator (thanks to Josh Beer and the company he works for), played ball with the other boys, rode in tractors, messed around with their flashlights, slept in sleeping bags on the ground, woke up filthy and smelling like smoke. Basically, it was little boy paradise! They were so completely exausted and over-stimulated that when I brought them home in the morning (Manny had to leave early for work so my Dad stepped in for the breakfast part of the shindig) they went straight into a hot bath which left the tub a dingy brown and into BED again! They both slept for nearly 3 hours! This campout really is one of the highlights of their year and I'm so very happy that Manny was able to take them. We weren't sure due to his work schedule, but the Lord provided the way. I love that he's making these kind of memories with them. They will treasure them. Before they left, after the car was all packed with camping provisions, I took a few photos of the guys ready to head out. Elijah asked me so sweetly if he can have a copy of the photos with their Daddy so he can always remember this awesome campout! Of course! Those pics are going in the "special things box" for sure!

Here are some pictures I took of them before they left. Manny did take some w/his phone too, but I don't have those.

Happy Christmas

Merry Christmas 2013! Tis the year for Superman EVERYTHING.

And bicicles.

And matching red plaid PJs.

What more could a 3 and 6 year-old ask for?

They had a wonderful day, and so did I.

Percussion

A few nights ago, while I was washing dishes and my boys were looking for some entertainment, I introduced them to the joys of percussion.
Armed with only 2 sets of chopsticks, a muffin tin turned upside-down, and a few cups, they performed concert after concert for each other in the stairwell while I kept busy in the kitchen.

It went like this: Zeke, seated on the bottom step w/his "instruments" a few steps above, would tap the chopsticks together and count off "a one, two, free, four", then bang, clang, and clink his way through one musical number then another. When he felt finished, he'd turn to Elijah (who had been seated in a little chair beside the stairs) and say "Now you cwap fo me Yai-jah!" At which time Elijah would clap politely and say a few kind words like "nice job Zeke" or "Woohoo". Zeke would then turn and wave, saying "fank you, fank you, fank you". And on and on it went. They took turns, switching places, alternatively clapping and cheering for each other.
45 minutes later, Elijah was tired of the routine but Ezekiel was not. So he employed Manny as his new audience member. And the pattern repeated again.

And that is how I kept the children out of my hair while I cleaned the kitchen. {I wish I had a photo, but my hands were soapy.}

The End.

Mud In Your Eye

On a steamy-warm day in October I left my boys with my parents while I went on a photo shoot. (6-month-old twins... yikes!)

My Dad had closed the pool the weekend before and discovered a drainage pipe problem. So he and the boys set to work digging up the pipe. Consequently creating an awesome muddy play environment. Now my boys love a good project as much as the next kid. So they worked hard and played dirty. So dirty, in fact, that when I returned to pick them up THIS is what they looked like.

I think its a childhood rite of passage. Every kid has to be covered head-to-toe in mud at some point between the ages of 1 and 12. Maybe more than once. This was not Zeke's first time. And knowing him, it won't be his last.

It was all fun and dirty games until somebody got mud in his eye. After that there was much suffering on Zeke's part and apologizing on Elijah's part, because it turns out Elijah thought Zeke wouldn't mind if he smeared it on his face and into his ears. For the record, Elijah was wrong about that.

And then I stripped them naked on the porch and carried them by their armpits to the shower.
Good times.

spying

There are still surprises to Motherhood. 

Like when early this morning I emerged from my room and found these two reading together in the sunlight of Ezekiel's window. I was taken off guard because I heard no arguing or declaring of phrases such as, "Mine!" or "I had that first!".  No, just two brothers peacefully spending time together while their Mommy was taking a shower. The older one was even reading to the younger one without being asked. Ah, there is hope after all.  I think they really might like each other.

Sometimes in the Spring

It has been so discouragingly cold this Spring. We've been desperate for a good warm day to play outside. But FINALLY, this past week we've reached the high 60's and low 70's. We are sooo thankful! Plus, I've been itching to get outside and take some Springtime pictures of my boys. So this morning we were able enjoy some time outdoors, picking "andy-ions" and digging in the rocks.

Ms. Katrina came today too for Zeke's speech therapy. We all really appreciate her so much. I cannot believe the progress my little Zeke has made with her help. It's amazing that just 9 months ago he was only using 4 "real" words and now he jabbers constantly. He still has lots of work to do, but I can understand him now and he's able to communicate his needs. He's doing wonderfully and I am so proud. I'm kind of dreading the time when he no longer gets to have a weekly playdate with Ms."Trina". He loves her so much.

On The Stairs

So, yesterday morning they boys were caught playing in the stairwell. This is not allowed in our house because the stairs are open on one side and they could be hurt if they fell over the edge. But when I saw how cute and loving they were being with each other, in stead of punishment for disobeying the rule, I told them to hold it right there while I grabbed my camera. The light was so pretty in their eyes, they were in good moods, being nice to each other, and relatively confined. So it was a perfect photo-op.  Sometimes the stars just align. But not often. :)

In other news, we are over a week into Spring and this dang weather still thinks its Mid-January. Enough already!! WE WANT TO PLAY OUTSIDE! Two days ago it snowed all morning and afternoon. Today its's 38 degrees. This just will not do for the very end of March. No sir.

Oh, terrible flu.

On Sunday afternoon, a week ago, my sweet little Zeke woke up from his nap with a high fever. He was lethargic, whimpering, and obviously felt like crap.  That night he threw up in his bed, but never cried, so I didn't know it until morning.  I was so upset for being such a neglectful mom - not even knowing that my little one was sleeping in a puddle of his own vomit all night - waking up sticky and covered in it. Poor baby!  That evening at supper he did it again - all down the front of Manny - at the dinner table. (fun for everyone!)

Two days later Manny had the same symptoms. Minus the throwing up, lucky him.

Two days after that I felt fine on my way to morning Bible Study, then on the way home it hit me like a truck.  And by the time I walked in the door at home, it was all I could do to stand.  Thankfully, it was naptime for Zeke and Elijah was willing to watch cartoons all afternoon next to my bed while I shivered and ached and wondered if I would surely die.  Bless my sweet Elijah's heart, he took such good care of me. He went out to the car and got a bottle of Advil, brought it back to me with a drink of water, and kept checking on me, gently touching my cheeks and saying "I love you, Mom.".  What a comfort he was to me. Precious boy.

Sadly, Elijah came down with it worse than any of us in the middle of the night that night.

I changed the bed linens 3 times - until there were no more clean sheets or pillows to use. Poor buddy tried so hard to make it to the bucket in time, but missed (Boy, did he miss!). He ended up sleeping on top of towels and using a tiny baby blanket to cover. The fever was so high the next day that I thought something might be terribly wrong when he was talking nonsense, looking "through" me with glazed over eyes, and couldn't hold his cup.  It turns out he was only talking in his sleep, but he gave his Mommy a good scare.

{This stuff was a life-saver!}

Thankfully, the bug is gone now and we're all feeling back to almost normal. It's strange how weak I am now after missing 2 weeks at the gym.

On the bright side, every bed linen we own has now been laundered, so Spring cleaning is well underway.

Speaking of Spring... come on with it! I'm SICK of this relentless cold and dreary snow.

Merry Christmas 2012

Elijah, age 5(and almost a half), Zeke age 2(and almost a half)

After 3 failed attempts to take photos of my boys together, we managed to steal their attention for about 60 seconds after church last week.  This is the result. Also, I designed and created the card ALL BY MYSELF!  I'm kinda proud of this, my first attempt at anything graphically designed.  So Merry Christmas to all. With love from my family.

Quiet Evenings

Since Manny has been working evenings for quite a while, the boys and I have developed a pretty nice pre-bedtime routine. After a supper and baths, they get in their pjs and we hang out (sometimes in Mommy's 'big bed') reading books or playing cars, or trains, or whatever catches their attention.  Tonight's reading selection included some favorites: The Big Red Barn, Goodnight Moon, In The Tall, Tall Grass, Pano (the train), One Fish Two Fish, and Are You My Mother?.  Audience members tonight included: Little Duck, Meduim Duck, White Duck, Red Angry Bird, and Red Angry Star Wars Bird. They were expecially cuddly and sweet with each other so I grabbed my camera and snapped a few. These quiet moments are kind of rare.