Picture of the Day, Week 15

Sunday {4.10.11}

Spring has sprung! Tulips (and a fair number of weeds) are starting to bloom in our backyard!

Monday {4.11.11}

The weather has been absolutely beautiful since Saturday, and the boys have been spending a good amount of time in the backyard. This was my view from the kitchen window as I made lunch today.

Tuesday {4.12.11}

Drew's preschool does an awesome thing when school is done for the day. Instead of parents having to come inside to pick up their kids, the teachers bring the kids out to the cars. This is especially nice for me so that I don't have to tote Reed inside and down a huge flight of stairs to pick up Drew (although I do do it in the morning when we drop him off). Instead, we pull up to the door and Mrs. Bland puts Drew in the van for us!

Wednesday {4.13.11}

Both boys are very into blowing bubbles right now. Here, I was practicing making some, as Reed would say, "HUGE!" bubbles. ;)

Thursday {4.14.11}

Reed absolutely l.o.v.e.s. to be outside...risking indecent exposure just to be out there! (For the record, he is wearing a diaper!)

Friday {4.15.11}

Severe weather sent us to the basement in the middle of dinner when the tornado sirens went off. Thankfully, we have our old table and the patio chairs down there so we had ourselves a little caveman's dinner in our dark and dreary basement.

Saturday {4.16.11}

We've established the tradition of homemade pizza, eaten picnic style on the living room floor, on Saturday nights. We're currently in a 3/4 pepperoni, 1/4 cheese pizza trend.

J-E-S-U-S YES!

Brad's my video man. He uploads and edits and makes them all fancy. So I wait on him (and he's a pretty busy guy) to post them here. I have a few backlogged that I need to get up here on the ol' blog, so stick around. ;)

Youth Sunday was back in March, and the entire Sunday morning service was led by our children and our youth. The youngest kids, aged 2-11, sang a few praise songs. Somehow, and don't ask me how, I was the adult in charge of this little choir. Oh Lord have mercy!

Ignore me, and listen for Drew. :)

J-E-S-U-S YES! from Brad Vander Waal on Vimeo.

Not His Day

This morning, Reed slipped on his bathroom stool, hitting his chin on the countertop and biting his tongue slightly.

This afternoon, Reed and Drew were hugging before quiet time when they lost their balance and Reed fell backwards, hitting his head on the wall.

Tonight, Reed slipped on the bath mat and fell forward, hitting his forehead on the side of the tub.

Today was just not his day.

But he's okay.

See?

This kid knows how to throw caution to the wind and just run with it. Sometimes right into a wall...

Picture of the Day, Weeks 13 & 14

Sunday {3.27.11}

Weekend fun with Grammy & Papa!

Monday {3.28.11}

We went to JCPenney's Portrait Studio this morning to have Drew's 4 year, Reed's 2 year, and our family pictures taken. Didn't turn out too shabby, if I do say so myself!

Tuesday {3.29.11}

My parents brought these rain boots for Reed when they were here over the weekend. He hasn't taken them off since. ;)

Wednesday {3.30.11}

Drew has a box of eight Disney puzzles that vary in size. He has helped put together most of them but when Brad pulled this one out to work on (5oo pieces of Snow White and her dwarfs) Drew walked away pretty quickly! Brad ended up doing it all by himself. It took him a few nights, but he was pretty intent on putting it all together.

Thursday {3.31.11}

Reed woke up this morning with a fever and barky cough. He fell asleep like this shortly after waking up in the morning. He ended up with croup and a faintly positive strep test.

Friday {4.1.11}

Despite the illness, both boys went to Pella for the weekend to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa. I'd say they had a pretty fabulous time!

Saturday {4.2.11}

Brad and I took advantage of a kid-free weekend and went out on a date. We ate at Hickory River Bar-B-Que, then came home and watched a couple movies on Netflix. (We're so exciting, aren't we?)

Sunday {4.3.11}

Along with completing a couple big projects on my to-do list, I also was able to shop while the boys were gone. I scoured the clearance racks at Target, JCPenneys and Kohls and found a few good deals for myself. Shopping by and for myself is something that never happens (or at least not without great difficulty) when the boys are home!

Monday {4.4.11}

We met up with Brad's parents and the boys today to bring them home. We ate lunch at the Burlington Perkin's before saying thank you and good-bye to Grandma and Grandpa.

Tuesday {4.5.11}

Local elections today, including voting for our new town mayor.

Wednesday {4.6.11}

This is Drew's get-up to protect his ears from water while bathing. It took Drew a bit to get used to it ("I can't hear!!!") but along with earplugs, it works like a charm to keep his ears dry. And it looks rather big because it's an adult sized band-it. Yep. His head is that big. :)

Thursday {4.7.11}

One of the big projects that I completed over the weekend while the boys were gone was the editing of our blog to send to the book publisher (Blurb). I had 2009 AND 2010 yet to complete. They arrived today and I couldn't be happier with them! I just love that we now have all of these memories recorded for the future.

Friday {4.8.11}

I declared tonight a family movie night so the boys and I stopped by the Redbox and picked up Megamind. It's a very cute movie; Brad and I laughed more than Drew did! I hope this is something that we can regularly incorporate into our days in the future, when Reed is a bit more willing to sit still and actually watch the tv. ;)

Saturday {4.9.11}

We were invited to dinner with the Witzigs, but when Reed woke up from his nap this afternoon, he had a fever of 102. He and I stayed home, and Drew and Brad kept the dinner date. Drew, Ella and Abbi had quite the time, I hear!

Spring Break

This post is a bit overdue, but I guess it's taken all of us quite a few days to recuperate from spring break! {Good heavens, what will it be like at the end of the summer?!?!}

Drew had spring break last week, March 28-April 1. Let's get real, though...he goes to school two days a week for a grand total of four and a half hours. So, Drew being home "all week long" wasn't exactly out of the norm. ;) But regardless of this, it did work out perfectly for a little "break" for both the boys and for this very tired Mama!

After Grammy & Papa returned home on Tuesday the 29th from their weekend visit to our house, the boys packed their bags for a little mini-vacation to Grandma & Grandpa's house!(Man, I just love grandparents!) The plan was to meet Brad's parents in Burlington on Thursday afternoon (the 31st) to swap vehicles and to hand the boys over for the weekend. Things did go as planned...but not without a little hiccup to start things off with!

I had made a nurse appointment at the pediatrician's office for Reed for that morning. When we were in the clinic the previous week for the boys' well-child check-ups, I had neglected to have Reed's iron count tested to see if his levels were normal enough to stop taking his daily vitamin. It just so happened that when Reed woke up on Thursday morning, he felt a bit warm and had a very barky cry and cough. After bringing him downstairs, and snuggling for a bit, this was how he ended up...

Let's just say that this never happens! He never falls back asleep after he wakes up!

So, after having his blood drawn (which was normal so YAY! for that), I mentioned to the nurse that he felt feverish and had this cough when he woke up that morning. She took his temp: 101.3. And after taking a list of his symptoms, the nurse said that the nurse practitioner would be able to see Reed that morning. (I just want to note that I don't do this: I don't just show up at the doctor's office with a sick kid and ask for an appointment right then and there. I felt kind of weird about it, and I probably wouldn't even had said anything had the boys not been leaving town that afternoon. But the staff was gracious and willing...which was awesome...but we also had to wait.)

And wait. And wait.

Drew went with us (because, of course, I had only expected to be there for a few minutes) and we were stuck inside the confines of a 7x7 exam room for a grand total of 2 1/2 hours. (I realized I might be a tish claustrophobic once we left the clinic and I got a breath of fresh air!)

In the end, Reed was diagnosed with croup and a minor strep infection. Drew then was also tested for strep throat, and it came back "faintly" positive as well. We then went through a bit of a communication snafu as we ended up leaving the clinic (because neither Drew, nor I, could stand to sit there any longer) and had to wait to hear if the NP would prescribe antibiotics since the strep test was so faint.

Mother-conundrum: Do I still send the boys to Grandma and Grandpa's house? Drew wanted to go. Boy, was he excited. He even said he would go by himself if Reed couldn't go. But Reed. Could I send Reed? Before knowing whether or not he'd get meds for the strep (he would get steroids to help with the inflammation to relieve the croup), I just knew I couldn't send him if he didn't get any. I figured that the strep test had come back barely positive because he had literally been sick for 4 hours...not 4 days...and I knew that by Saturday, he'd be in full-fledged agony and need a trip to the Urgent Care to get antibiotics. I couldn't put that on Reed, or my in-laws, to have to deal with and struggle through.

However, I don't think I can stress to you how much I was in need of a break from motherhood. And a break from everything else! We have been so busy lately, and Brad has been so busy lately, and I've had a lot more alone time here with the little boys without Brad's aid and assistance. And without complaining too much, I'll just say that if Mama didn't get a break soon, someone was going to get hurt. And it probably would have been Mama!

We called Brad's mom and filled her in on what was going on, and got her opinion. She asked all the right questions, and in the end, thought that the boys would be fine to come to their place.

So I was really really torn. Couple the fact that I was so in need of some alone time with the idea that not only would I not be getting my alone time but that I also would be taking care of a sick child...oh my stars. My physiological reaction to the idea of it was too much, let alone the potential reality of it!

Soon enough, the miscommunication between the doctor's office, the pharmacy and me was resolved and both boys were prescribed antibiotics for strep.

Whew!

To Grandmother's house we go!

By the time Reed got his first dose of both the steroid and the antibiotic, he was perking up. I felt much better about sending the boys away after seeing that. But I tell you, nothing produces Mama guilt quite like this experience! And, you know, maybe I still made the wrong decision. Maybe Reed should have stayed home. It was selfish to send him off sick when I just really wanted some "me" time. I strongly believe that one of the best things I as a mother can do for my kids is to spend some time away from them, but I also know and believe that when a baby is sick, he just wants his mommy. Maybe there is no right answer, I don't know. We, of course, communicated with Brad's parents throughout the weekend, and Reed continued to perk up as time passed. He had a bit of a set back on Sunday, but we chalked it up to excessive activity and fun. :)

Regardless of all the drama and germs, both boys had a most fantastic time. See for yourself!

The joy of "new" toys found in the basement.

The neighbors let the boys play on their outdoor equipment.

Cheap labor. :)

The boys helped Grandpa clean up the debris from where their old deck used to be.

Trikin' it.

The local tractor supply store had baby chicks...

and tractors...

and dune buggies???

Grandma has quite the set-up for this video game junkie!

They spent part of Saturday in Des Moines at Glenda and Rob's house.

Soccer with Alison.

Basketball with Uncle Brent & Lewis.

Raiding Grandma's M&M stash.

The weather forecast did NOT call for an 86 degree day! But that's what they got! YAY for playing outside! BOO to Mom for not packing any short sleeved shirts!

What is it with Iowa and tractors?? ;)

Relaxing before bedtime.

Tea for one!

We met back up in Burlington on Monday the 4th to pick up the boys. They really did have a great weekend with Grandma and Grandpa, but I think they were ready to come home. At lunch, Drew asked Grandma who they were going home with. He was pleased when the answer was "Mom and Dad." :)

{Oh, and what did I end up doing with all my free time? Plenty! My cousin came for a couple days for a little scrapbook extravaganza, wherein I completed two major projects (Reed's baby book and the editing to send our blog to publish in book format). I also shopped by and for myself (never happens) and Brad and I had a date night. Brad got a few projects done, too. And we slept in. Just a bit.} :)

Thank you Grandma & Grandpa! We are so so thankful for you!

Our Family

Fooled

Last week I blogged about Reed's transition out of his crib and into his toddler bed.

Did I make it seem like things were going well? Like it was maybe going better than I thought it would go??

If so...you've been fooled.

And so have I.

I've said before (although maybe not on here) that Reed is...well...kind of a punk. And I say that with complete and total love and affection for my little punk. ;) He's just so mischievous and naughty and sneaky and naughty and silly and naughty in a way that Drew never was. It's a bit to get used to without losing all sanity. Or hair.

I think the transition to his bed was going well because I was staying with him in his room until he fell asleep; at naptime and at bedtime. Thinking it would help ease the weird newness of it all for him, I laid down in the guest bed (which is in Reed's room) so he'd know I was there and that it was ok to fall asleep.

I soon realized it also helped control that little man's mischievous urges.

When I stopped staying with him, naughty things happened. On the worst day, it looked like this...

Reed's room is just around the corner from where the toys are. He and Drew go to quiet time at the same time, and once Reed discovered he could get out of bed without Mama's knowledge, he took advantage! Back and forth to Drew's room he would go, and as I heard the little pitter patter of feet upstairs, I'd make my way up there to put both boys back in their respective beds. Each time I went up, the threats got more intense, until this was how things ended up. Drew was gated into his room, and Reed was gated into his, with all of his toys removed to the hallway.

{And my visions of the boys sharing a room anytime soon have been effectively shattered.}

Let's just say Reed doesn't like the gate. And when it's up, he ends up like this...

...after minutes and minutes and m.i.n.u.t.e.s of crying! At the longest, probably an hour.

So, what's a mom to do? This is one of those parenting tests that I really wish would be less gray and more black and white.

Option 1: Keep things as is. Threaten to put up gate, eventually put gate up, Baby cries seemingly endlessly before falling asleep on the floor. Baby only stays asleep for 30-40 minutes because when he stirs and wakes enough to realize he's asleep on the floor, he becomes upset again. And the kicker: Baby thinks Mama doesn't love him because she doesn't respond to his cries.

Option 2: Stay on guard and put Baby back in bed every time he gets out. {I tried this. It's tiring. Kid wears me out when he's up immediately after I walk out of the room.}

Option 3: Lay down with Baby and risk falling asleep before he does, and then he sneaks out of the room. {Yep. It happened.}

For now, I've gone back to laying down with Reed at quiet time and at bedtime. I've snoozed a few of those times (which isn't all bad) but I think I've realized that this is the way it needs to be for a bit longer.

Mom seeking advice here. Hints? Tips? Recipes for mixed drinks???

{Note: In all fairness to Reed, Drew has picked up on the sneakiness and fills the role of ringleader quite well. The other day, Drew didn't know I was laying in Reed's room during quiet time, when I heard him from the doorway, whispering, "Reed, you wanna come to my room???" His feet moved pretty fast when he heard me say "Drew, back to your room!"}