What we've been up to

Its been a long while since I've posted anything.  I just needed a break I guess and getting back to a sense of normalcy around here.  Its starting to get that way, thankfully.  Brad is continuing to improve, although, my oh my, what a long recovery.  Sheesh.  Knock on wood, we've been healthy and I pray it stays that way.  A certain someone that I am madly in love with had a birthday last week and Brad and I managed to have a date night (thanks mom and dad!!) and it was so nice to have a night together, just us.  We got to see Brad's mom and stepdad as they came through town again last weekend which was an added bonus as well.  And just trying to enjoy the summer days.  Nothing exciting, but in our case I think that's a good thing!  

Blake was really excited about me snapping his picture!

He is getting so grown up by the minute.  He's pretty precious too.  Last night he ran up to Brad and asked, "Daddy, when will I be sixteen??"
Brad asked, "Why do you want to be sixteen??"
Blake, "Because I'll be taller when I'm sixteen."
See?? He's precious.

Brady steering a pirate ship.

 I still just want to attack this boy with kisses and squeezes all day every day.  He's such a love.  He will come up to Brad and I and say I want a hug and kiss.  Or tell us I love you throughout the day without us saying it first.  He's just such a LOVE.  Brady's weight still weighs on my heart.  He's approaching his third birthday and wears 18 month size shorts after all.  But it does not weigh on my heart nearly as much.  I can officially say we've seen every specialist I think one could see for something like this and had I think every test known to man and he even graduated yesterday from having to see the immunologist again unless something changes with this health, so he is doing really well and that does make me so.incredibly.happy.

These are the days

You know those days when everything you try just doesn't seem to be working out and you just want to crawl back under the covers and have a "do over"??  I feel like a lot of my days the last few weeks have gone that way.  Like when, my four year old on the flip side of throwing up, couldn't go to the bathroom for days...  and then laid crying on the couch in agony from it all.  Then we gave him doctor approved medicine to help with that.  And he finally went.  And then couldn't control it.  So I spent the afternoon cleaning up #2 accidents all over the house.  And then my dog decided to pee a lake on the carpet after that.  And then one of my new sandals broke, while out in public so I had to walk around like an idiot with one shoe on.  And then I spilled water all over the kitchen floor.  And really, none of this is a big deal.  At all, in the grand scheme of things.  But just after the exhausting few weeks I've had, its just like enough.  I will climb back in bed now and wait for next year. Wake me when its 2013.  
I was laying in Blake's room the other night though trying to help him fall asleep and I laid there thinking, in spite of all this CRAP, all this little, doesn't matter crap, these really are the days.  Like Natalie Merchant singing, these are the days.  Blake will be away from my side for three days a week when he starts preschool in the fall.  The following year, he'll be in school all day long for five days a week.  Even though a big part of me is looking forward to having some more peace while he's in school, thinking about it, makes me sad too.  I'm going to miss the heck out of that boy.  In a blink of an eye both my babies will no longer be anything remotely close to babies.   I will long for these days.  I know I'll want to give anything to have all the not so fun, lack of patience filled days, just to have one more snuggle or hear one more giggle fit.  To be able to kiss away boo boos.  To build forts and play hide and seek.  To finger paint and play catch.  So, its a balancing act.  Trying not to wish away the days filled with poo and pee clean up and choosing to embrace the snuggles and giggles.  I'm choosing to remember the snuggles and giggles.  Although, believe you me, I'll save plenty of the stories of "Do you know what I went through when you were little?!?!?!?!" to guilt my teenage sons with. Its a rite of passage for them growing up after all.  

Another one down...

Another victim of the stomach monster.  Poor baby.  Okay...enough already!  

Fun Friday

I guess the black cloud that had been over our house decided not to leave after all.  I woke up early Friday sick and I mean SICK.  Stomach bug sick.  Running fever sick.  Brad had to leave for a knee follow up appointment and then had to go into the office to work on a project that couldn't be done from home and then on to rehab.  He said if I absolutely needed him to let him know.  My kids are such rock stars, its not even funny.  Well, I did bribe them.  I said, mommy is VERY sick.  Please be good boys for me today and if you are daddy will reward you when you get home.  And they listened.  They played Wii together most of the entire day (no one even had to get stitches!) while I was either getting sick or laying in bed.  I managed to get up only a few times... to change a couple of Brady diapers and to throw chips on the table for their lunch.  Literally, that's what they ate for lunch.  It was all I could handle.  Mom of the year over here.  I couldn't even get up to put Brady down for a nap.  So, he just went with out.  I ended up calling Brad at some point and said if there is any way possible, please come home early.  By the time he made it home it was about five.  But the boys were such troopers.  My house wasn't too messy from their day of minimal supervision.  They had some food in their bellies.  They were happy and no one got hurt.  Victory!  Brad rewarded them by taking them to McDonald's to eat and play and so I could lay in silence.  What a friggin day.  But, at least I can say all of us are healthy at this exact minute.  Victory! 

Looking Up

 Things are looking up around here.  I got my stitches out today, Brady is eating more, Brad is getting more mobile and Blake looks really adorable in Brad's hat.

Sunshine after rain...Eventually

Could this face be any sweeter?  This was taken just a few hours before, what we believe was food poisoning set in.  Because you know, we didn't have enough on our plate (my plate) and this boy could totally afford to throw up all.night.long. because he's not trying to gain weight or anything.  OR the exact opposite.  I felt so bad for Brady.  It was horrible.  I ended up just laying on the floor of his room all night so any time I heard him whimper I could run him to the bathroom on time.  At least, my prayers were answered and by Friday morning he was at least able to hold down water and then shortly after hold down food. Although, the last few days he's barely eaten anything.  Not sure if its because his stomach still feels upset or if he's just scared to eat again (don't blame him).  But whatever it is, I'm going to admit....I'm kind of, how should I put it....FREAKING OUT.  So much time and effort to get this boy on the charts with his weight and I so desperately want him to stay there.  I know, I have to just weather the storm that we're in and remember to have faith, breathe (and sleep when possible).  

Shortly before Brad's dad passed away he made Brad a mixed tape.  I'm sorry, not a mixed tape, but a mixed CD?  That just sounds weird.  But, he made him a CD of songs that he loved and that were special to him and that he felt Brad would love to.  What a neat gift.  Especially now that he's no longer with us.  But, my point with this story is, there is a song on there that really speaks to me when I'm going through a period that I'm desperately seeking to find the light at the end of the tunnel.  It's a Dire Straights song and the main chorus goes, 

Why worry?

There should be laughter after pain

There should be sunshine after rain

These things have always been the same

So why worry now?

Kind of just a poetic way of saying, this too shall pass.  And the last few days this song has been on repeat.  Just FYI.  

And to end my ramblings, I have to give a shout out to our friends Kim and Tanner.  Kim knew with everything going on the last few weeks that I was so needing a break of my wife and mom duties in the kitchen and could really use some adult company as well (and wine) and they came over Friday night with dinner for all of us, lots of wine, fun, and oh yeah, they brought their sweetest ever corgi puppy that I swear could be Odie's baby.  If he was still alive.  And hadn't been fixed.  It was just what our little family needed and I'm so so so grateful for good friends like them.