Peanut Butter

Jace literally went from last tuesday to this past wednesday not eating.  She barely ate anything solid and it was making her act and feel worse.  I was getting pretty desperate so I stole a page out of a friend's book:  she'd let her daughter eat peanut butter off a spoon because she'd asked for it soooo I asked Jace wednesday night if she'd like some peanut butter on a spoon and she got terribly excited about it.  She ate 6 spoonfuls... and I didn't care.  She became a different child... and she woke up a different child on thursday.  She ate marginally better last night... some soup.  I asked her today if she'd like a peanut butter sandwich for lunch and she excitedly said "YES! PLEASE!"  And then followed that polite response with, "I can't want the peanut butter on my bread please.  Please not on my bread"  in a sweet sing song voice.  So she ate it off a spoon again, but she did eat grapes with it as well.

The culprit...

Here's the dog that *sprinkled* the fridge...  if it weren't so cold and he wasn't so darn cute he'd be banished outside tonight!

Thanks be to God

This day has not been great.  In fact, the past 2 weeks have not been very good either.  It's not that I don't realize that I don't have SO much to be thankful for... and I do mean fall on my knees, giving all that I have in me thanks to God.  It's just that these past 2 weeks have been probably the most frustrating for me since we were blessed with children.  And it's like certain people expect you to be so "grateful" to be home with your children (which is your God given right) that they make you feel guilty for the slightest bit of frustration that you may feel at times.  (And I am NOT talking about Trey here).  I am not walking around here frustrated at the kids... it's not like they can help feeling bad, its just exhausting.  And worrisome.  And its not like I have all that much help...  I mean it really is just me fending for myself over here most of the time with the kids and the dogs and the house and all that that entails.  Trey, of course, helps me when he's here, and does alot more than some of the other *dads* that we know, its just that he has to leave, he has to work.  When he was sick he had the luxury of being sick (if there really is such a thing).  No one bothering him, pulling on him, yelling at him... he got to sleep it off.  I, on the other hand, had to get up as usual and take care of my kids.  Not that I don't want to take care of my beautiful children.... its just that I would probably be better already if I had had the luxury of recuperating.  Of course now I sound like a big whiner I'm sure.  But I mean, seriously, we have been sick since the 5th of January around here people!  And its done nothing but get progressively worse.  First the cough & cold symptoms, then the fever viruses, then the double ear infections, then the stomach viruses (ALL around).  And my poor children are just sick of being sick... Jace says her stomach hurts and when she potties I know she's telling me the truth (I'll spare those details).  This morning was the icing on the cake though...  let's just say if its bad enough to make Trey gag then its BAD.  And poor Rory... she is just still too little to be throwing up and having explosive diapers and yet that was our morning.  And I admit, I was frustrated.  Once again, let me clarify-NOT with the children, just the circumstances.  And Trey was late leaving the house, and frustrated with me for being frustrated (imagine that), and Jace was throwing what is becoming her normal behavior, a major fit because she didn't want to eat (is it possible for a 2  year old to become anorexic?) and so he just left me... dealing with a baby who'd just thrown up twice, a screaming 2 year old, one dog on the kitchen table (who was eating Jace's breakfast because apparently she wasn't going to eat it) and another dog who decided it was time to pee on the refrigerator because I guess it appeared that I didn't already have enough to do...  Luckily for me I have people in my life who genuinely want to be there, and I do sincerely thank Jesus for them every day.  If it weren't for my friend Jessica today I may have just simply lost my mind this morning... (okay, a little melodramatic but she did make my morning a little brighter).  And my other friend Lauren brought my family dinner when I was at my worst sick...  and Vicki went to the grocery store for me when the kids were screaming too much and Trey was too sick for me to leave...  my mom listening to me when I can do nothing but whine (although I shouldn't)... my friend Amanda taking some time in her morning to go to the bookstore with us just to simply help me with the kids...  the prayers of various other people in our lives...  the fact that even though my children are not quite better they are no longer running serious fevers... they are (for the most part) still smiley, happy children...  these are the reasons I should fall on my knees in thanks to GOD... NOT feel sorry for myself...  so THANKS BE TO GOD.  And thanks to everyone else for bearing with me today...

Octagon

Just a little tidbit of our day...  we decided to go for a walk around the block after naps.  Does anyone ever notice the little security  signs posted in the yard?  I don't think I have ever really paid them that much attention, but as we passed one today Jace pointed at it and said, "Look Mommy, it's an octagon."  I stopped and thought to myself that it really was a hexagon, but as I looked closer at it I realized that it was indeed an octagon.  I praised her and we kept walking.  We passed another security post and she said, "Mommy, it's another octagon."  So I pointed out the stop sign and after explaining that it was a stop sign asked her, "What shape is it?"  She said, "It's octagon number 3."  Which is correct... we had seen 3 octagons at that point.  I was blown away by my child, as we have really only been going over shapes haphazardly except for circles and squares!  It made me realize that, although at times I may feel inadequate as a mother, that I am, indeed, teaching them.  

A new craft

Concentrating.....

Hard at work.....

The finished product.  

They were suppose to all be squares but some turned into circles :)  This was all Jace would do with me today... but didn't it turn out well!?!

5 pacis

That's right people.... she is sleeping with 

5 pacis!  

This is what Rory needs to sleep: 

multiple pacifiers :)

A glimpse of our day...

Here's what Jace learned today... 

The only line I did was the very first purple one to show her what to do.  I think she did an excellent job tracing lines.

She also learned about squares and had the BEST time glueing these squares onto her construction paper.

She had a BLAST making her bean square :)

Rory's mission today was to FEED HERSELF...

Mommy gave in finally to her stubborn desire to wield the spoon...

She did an EXCELLENT job her first time feeding herself with a spoon.

Jace also got to fingerpaint today after she (didn't) eat lunch... and Rory was wearing most of her mashed potatoes SOOO a fun bath followed lunchtime.  YAAAY!  They were both EXTREMELY excited... they LOVE bath time!

The afternoon was a little mundane since I had to take the Roar back to the Dr...  

the verdict:  double ear infections :(  

And a little ABC and 123 action after dinner...

Just a little glimpse of our day today... hope you enjoyed!

Psalm 150: 1,6

"Praise the Lord.  Let everything that breathes praise the Lord."

Sick

Yes, sick.....  this is what we have been doing for the past week.  And really nothing else...  First Jace, then Roar, on to Trey and now, unfortunately, it is my turn...  maybe there will be better posts in the future...

Shorts in January

The weather has been a little crazy around here.... thus the shorts in the middle of winter.

One of few moments lately that the girls play sweetly together... Jace has developed a habit of taking whatever Rory is playing with away from her.  I'm sure it is a stage...

Look how tiny Rory looks :)