The difference is stark.
I got something while we were at the beach. Monday night I didn't feel quite right. Tuesday I felt awful, and spent all afternoon and evening being sick and/or sleeping. Couldn't keep anything down, and didn't even want to try. Wednesday I felt weak and wan, but could nearly manage, and even began to eat again. So, we're talking nearly 3 days of feeling off.
Owen seemed tired on Wednesday, but insisted that he felt fine. I was suspicious when I saw him lying in the grass, "just resting" while Livia and Rhyle found rocks that were just the right size for my vase. He didn't really want a snack, but then ate a few frozen berries- which he threw up on his way back into the house. After rinsing out his mouth and blowing his nose, he declared himself "fine" again and went to ride his bike. He even managed to eat some of his dinner that night! Today, he apparently is back to normal. So, he had, what, a bad HOUR? (Or afternoon, perhaps.)
So that's the difference. It takes me nearly twice as long to recover! And what to me felt awful to him was fine. =)
Now, we're praying that everyone else has been passed by.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Dinner Conversation
Rhyle: "Dad! I'm scribble-cutting my eggs. You don't have to help me."
(Apparently this is what it means to cut eggs with the side of your fork, using a sawing motion!)
Owen: "My foot is more sensible than your foot, Dad."
(This was to mean that his foot was more sensitive than Braden's!)
(Apparently this is what it means to cut eggs with the side of your fork, using a sawing motion!)
Owen: "My foot is more sensible than your foot, Dad."
(This was to mean that his foot was more sensitive than Braden's!)
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Happy Mother's Day!
This could become a very long post, but unfortunately, I don't have time for that! In the spirit of Mother's Day, in appreciating my own mother and recognizing my motherhood. . . I have been thinking about my children- how quickly they are growing, how much I love being with them.
Each day IS but a breath, and I forget more than I would like. Today I want to thank my children for the privilege I have to be their mother (which I know was given by God). I want to acknowledge who each of them is at this point, to give glory to their Creator for their unique personalities, talents, interests, and weaknesses. (His power is made perfect in weakness!)
Owen. Truly, I wouldn't know what to do without him! He is my #1 helper. He takes out the garbage, retrieves things for me, reads to his siblings, leads them by example (which is usually exemplary!), Sharks the rug after meals, sets and clears the table, helps with laundry and cleaning, is excellent with outdoor chores. He has a willing and teachable spirit. Owen is reading very well, picking up any book we bring home from the library. This week he amazed me. Usually he is restless during his "rest time," asking "how much longer?" even though he can read the clock. This week I had to go upstairs to find him; I thought he was sleeping. Turns out he was engrossed in a book- a chapter book. He had started at chapter 2 and told me that he wasn't going to stop until the end. He hadn't even looked at the clock. Whoa! That seemed like such a bigger boy thing to do. It was awesome. (It helped that the book was about swords and fighting!) Owen loves riding his bike and jumping on the trampoline (bouncing others and being bounced by Mom and Dad.) I am especially grateful for the tenderness he shows his siblings. God has gifted him with a sensitivity to them that is nothing other than extraordinary. How much I love you, Owen!
Rhyle. He is my child that makes me laugh and cry. He has a silly side that is adorable. He's also most in touch with his emotions, saying things like, "That makes me SO sad!" and "that makes me sadder than I want to be!" He doesn't particularly care to help with chores and doesn't want to help Livia at all. But he does still love to snuggle Cow. In this respect he is ultra-easy on his mom. . . he can disappear for spans of time and I will find him lying on his bed, on the floor, on the stairs, on the couch- with Cow and his fingers. (We're going to work on this over the summer.) He is my best car rider. He is winsome and dynamic. He knows all his letters and their sounds and is beginning to read short words. He loves jumping on the trampoline with Owen, riding his bike up and down the sidewalk, wrestling with Daddy, and listening to stories. He is the child who seems to always be awake when Braden and I go up to check on them, even an hour or two after we put them to bed! You would never know; he's just lying with Cow and thinking his Rhyle thoughts. His prayers are almost always, "God, thank you for the food, for the drinks, for the houses, Amen." Rhyle also has a sweet tooth. He's my only child to consistently ask for dessert. . . "or just a Twizzler or a gummie?" I've got a sweet spot for you, Rhyle!
Livia. Love my Liv. Two (and a half!) definitely becomes her. I am enjoying her now more than ever, and I'm not sure if that is just me coming around or her burgeoning abilities. She can talk up a storm and has great little sentences, even expanding beyond "me do it!" to "May I get down, please, Mommy?" and "May I have more fish, please?" Livia snuggles more than my boys did and I do not weary of having her on my lap, head resting on my chest. I love playing with her beautiful blond hair while we sing songs in her room at night. She loves singing. "Happy Birthday" is a favorite, along with "It's Raining, It's Pouring," "The B-I-B-L-E" and "Jesus Loves Me." Really, though, she'll pick up any song or rhyme and make it her own. I love it! Even though I grow weary of singing, I don't tire of hearing her. . . so we sing on. Livzy wears big girl underwear (and has done really well this week, but has had some not very good weeks prior.) She helps me with the dishes and the laundry. . .really, she'll help with almost anything. She loves jumping on the trampoline, wants to ride with me on "Mommy's bike," and finally grew into an appreciation for good books. She loves her dolls, Baby Susan and Baby Egg, and Dog. She can do everything her brothers can. Livia, you're a mystery and delight. I love you!
Each day IS but a breath, and I forget more than I would like. Today I want to thank my children for the privilege I have to be their mother (which I know was given by God). I want to acknowledge who each of them is at this point, to give glory to their Creator for their unique personalities, talents, interests, and weaknesses. (His power is made perfect in weakness!)
Owen. Truly, I wouldn't know what to do without him! He is my #1 helper. He takes out the garbage, retrieves things for me, reads to his siblings, leads them by example (which is usually exemplary!), Sharks the rug after meals, sets and clears the table, helps with laundry and cleaning, is excellent with outdoor chores. He has a willing and teachable spirit. Owen is reading very well, picking up any book we bring home from the library. This week he amazed me. Usually he is restless during his "rest time," asking "how much longer?" even though he can read the clock. This week I had to go upstairs to find him; I thought he was sleeping. Turns out he was engrossed in a book- a chapter book. He had started at chapter 2 and told me that he wasn't going to stop until the end. He hadn't even looked at the clock. Whoa! That seemed like such a bigger boy thing to do. It was awesome. (It helped that the book was about swords and fighting!) Owen loves riding his bike and jumping on the trampoline (bouncing others and being bounced by Mom and Dad.) I am especially grateful for the tenderness he shows his siblings. God has gifted him with a sensitivity to them that is nothing other than extraordinary. How much I love you, Owen!
Rhyle. He is my child that makes me laugh and cry. He has a silly side that is adorable. He's also most in touch with his emotions, saying things like, "That makes me SO sad!" and "that makes me sadder than I want to be!" He doesn't particularly care to help with chores and doesn't want to help Livia at all. But he does still love to snuggle Cow. In this respect he is ultra-easy on his mom. . . he can disappear for spans of time and I will find him lying on his bed, on the floor, on the stairs, on the couch- with Cow and his fingers. (We're going to work on this over the summer.) He is my best car rider. He is winsome and dynamic. He knows all his letters and their sounds and is beginning to read short words. He loves jumping on the trampoline with Owen, riding his bike up and down the sidewalk, wrestling with Daddy, and listening to stories. He is the child who seems to always be awake when Braden and I go up to check on them, even an hour or two after we put them to bed! You would never know; he's just lying with Cow and thinking his Rhyle thoughts. His prayers are almost always, "God, thank you for the food, for the drinks, for the houses, Amen." Rhyle also has a sweet tooth. He's my only child to consistently ask for dessert. . . "or just a Twizzler or a gummie?" I've got a sweet spot for you, Rhyle!
Livia. Love my Liv. Two (and a half!) definitely becomes her. I am enjoying her now more than ever, and I'm not sure if that is just me coming around or her burgeoning abilities. She can talk up a storm and has great little sentences, even expanding beyond "me do it!" to "May I get down, please, Mommy?" and "May I have more fish, please?" Livia snuggles more than my boys did and I do not weary of having her on my lap, head resting on my chest. I love playing with her beautiful blond hair while we sing songs in her room at night. She loves singing. "Happy Birthday" is a favorite, along with "It's Raining, It's Pouring," "The B-I-B-L-E" and "Jesus Loves Me." Really, though, she'll pick up any song or rhyme and make it her own. I love it! Even though I grow weary of singing, I don't tire of hearing her. . . so we sing on. Livzy wears big girl underwear (and has done really well this week, but has had some not very good weeks prior.) She helps me with the dishes and the laundry. . .really, she'll help with almost anything. She loves jumping on the trampoline, wants to ride with me on "Mommy's bike," and finally grew into an appreciation for good books. She loves her dolls, Baby Susan and Baby Egg, and Dog. She can do everything her brothers can. Livia, you're a mystery and delight. I love you!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Mother's Day 2007
Mother’s Day 2007
Owen (5 ½; Rhyle 3 ½)
(and my thanks for the questions from the mass email my friend Sara sent me!)
Why did God make mothers?
Rhyle: “So we can have babies!”
Owen: “Because they do to the most work. . . and they feed the babies.”
How did God make mothers?
Rhyle: “By creating them.”
Owen: “well, you have a skull on your head. . . everything has that. . . and. . .I don’t know.”
What ingredients are mothers made of?
Owen: “I have no idea about that.”
Rhyle: “Nope.”
Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mom?
Owen: “Because then we wouldn’t know who she was.”
Rhyle: “And we wouldn’t know her feet.”
What kind of little girl was your Mom?
Owen: “Calli girl. . . Better than now.”
Rhyle: “She was SO tiny.”
What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him?
Owen: “That he liked her.”
Rhyle: “Make him go potty before they left [to get married].”
Owen: “Rhyle, you have to marry him first!”
Why did your Mom marry your Dad?
Rhyle: “I don’t know.”
Owen: “Because if she doesn’t marry somebody she wouldn’t have a boss and girls can’t be the boss. . . oh! . . .then I would have to be the boss for you [her]!”
Who's the boss at your house?
Both boys in unison, with enthusiasm: “DAD!”
What's the difference between moms and dads?
Owen: “Long hair and short hair. . . different clothes.”
Rhyle: “Different eyes.”Owen: “Everyone has different eyes, except me and Dad.”
Rhyle: “And me.”
What does your Mom do in her spare time?
Owen: “Clean. .. read books. . . help people go potty. . . “
Rhyle: “Make her bed.”
What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
Rhyle: “Mother’s Day!. . . . and giving her flowers.”
Owen: “Helping Mom. Asking God to change her heart.”
Owen (5 ½; Rhyle 3 ½)
(and my thanks for the questions from the mass email my friend Sara sent me!)
Why did God make mothers?
Rhyle: “So we can have babies!”
Owen: “Because they do to the most work. . . and they feed the babies.”
How did God make mothers?
Rhyle: “By creating them.”
Owen: “well, you have a skull on your head. . . everything has that. . . and. . .I don’t know.”
What ingredients are mothers made of?
Owen: “I have no idea about that.”
Rhyle: “Nope.”
Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mom?
Owen: “Because then we wouldn’t know who she was.”
Rhyle: “And we wouldn’t know her feet.”
What kind of little girl was your Mom?
Owen: “Calli girl. . . Better than now.”
Rhyle: “She was SO tiny.”
What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him?
Owen: “That he liked her.”
Rhyle: “Make him go potty before they left [to get married].”
Owen: “Rhyle, you have to marry him first!”
Why did your Mom marry your Dad?
Rhyle: “I don’t know.”
Owen: “Because if she doesn’t marry somebody she wouldn’t have a boss and girls can’t be the boss. . . oh! . . .then I would have to be the boss for you [her]!”
Who's the boss at your house?
Both boys in unison, with enthusiasm: “DAD!”
What's the difference between moms and dads?
Owen: “Long hair and short hair. . . different clothes.”
Rhyle: “Different eyes.”Owen: “Everyone has different eyes, except me and Dad.”
Rhyle: “And me.”
What does your Mom do in her spare time?
Owen: “Clean. .. read books. . . help people go potty. . . “
Rhyle: “Make her bed.”
What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
Rhyle: “Mother’s Day!. . . . and giving her flowers.”
Owen: “Helping Mom. Asking God to change her heart.”
Saturday, May 12, 2007
"Do It Heartily"
"Whatever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord."
I'm writing today to encourage myself, I guess. As I was mowing the yard yesterday I was praying and also composing a very funny post in my head about "How long does it take to mow one lawn?" It takes Braden less than an hour.
It takes me two days. Each day takes me an hour. . . because I'm not ONLY mowing. I have to stop to: turn off the hose being used without permission, to kiss Livia's scraped knee, to rescue Rhyle from his fallen bike in the ditch, to move assorted weapons that were hidden in the grass, to get drinks for everyone, to take Livia to the potty, to fix her pony tail, to turn the sprinkler on, to adjust goggles for Rhyle, to move the upended and therefore, dangerous chair near the sprinkler, to adjust Liv's goggles, to fix the sprinkler that the boys adjusted, to fix Liv's goggles again, to help Livia into the trampoline, to tell the boys NOT to take all the pillows from the house into the trampoline, to find out WHERE the kids disappeared to so quickly, to move the damp towels off of the ground, to stop Livia from pouring her water all over herself, to protect the boys from the bee on the porch, to find out if Rhyle is okay after he fell off the top of the ride-on car, to clean off the slide for Livia. . .
Well, you see. It could be really funny.
I'm writing today to encourage myself, I guess. As I was mowing the yard yesterday I was praying and also composing a very funny post in my head about "How long does it take to mow one lawn?" It takes Braden less than an hour.
It takes me two days. Each day takes me an hour. . . because I'm not ONLY mowing. I have to stop to: turn off the hose being used without permission, to kiss Livia's scraped knee, to rescue Rhyle from his fallen bike in the ditch, to move assorted weapons that were hidden in the grass, to get drinks for everyone, to take Livia to the potty, to fix her pony tail, to turn the sprinkler on, to adjust goggles for Rhyle, to move the upended and therefore, dangerous chair near the sprinkler, to adjust Liv's goggles, to fix the sprinkler that the boys adjusted, to fix Liv's goggles again, to help Livia into the trampoline, to tell the boys NOT to take all the pillows from the house into the trampoline, to find out WHERE the kids disappeared to so quickly, to move the damp towels off of the ground, to stop Livia from pouring her water all over herself, to protect the boys from the bee on the porch, to find out if Rhyle is okay after he fell off the top of the ride-on car, to clean off the slide for Livia. . .
Well, you see. It could be really funny.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Pictures?. . .or Imagination?
Well, I've been busy checking out other blogs. I must say that some people I know have really COOL blogs with great pictures, fun colors. . basically, it makes me happy to there just because it looks so fun. I, however, do not have these things. I, however, cannot even figure out how to keep my recipes in nice straight lines down the right side. I, however, do not have the patience to wait for my photos to show up in the right places each time I try to add them to my own blog. So, for now, dear readers (ARE there dear readers? I'm wondering, since no one seems to comment and I think I changed my settings so that ANYone could comment. How undiscriminating is that?! Oh, and I like the "dear readers" phrase because Kate DiCamillo who wrote The Tale of Despereaux.), you are left with only your imagination and NO pictures. Alas.
BUT. . . I know your imagination works well, even if it is rusty from all those cutesy, eye-catching, colorful-in-a-mind numbing-way blogs. (Ha. I'm just kidding- I really DO prefer them!). So. . .imagine.
I'm spending so much time looking at other fun blogs that I barely make it to the bathroom. (This also has to do with being about 7 months pregnant!) It doesn't help that I start laughing on my way there because I am just like my own Livia.
Livia. . . oh, Livia. So many times in the past few weeks she has said, "potty, Mommy". . . and then as we near the potty she sighs a REALLY big sigh. "Oh, man." she says. . . And by these things I know that we are TOO LATE. She tells me, she tries to make it, but then she also plays out my role for me. (Guess I need to lighten up, huh?!) She almost makes it. . .
And tonight, in the bathroom, I was thinking that she and I are a lot alike.
BUT. . . I know your imagination works well, even if it is rusty from all those cutesy, eye-catching, colorful-in-a-mind numbing-way blogs. (Ha. I'm just kidding- I really DO prefer them!). So. . .imagine.
I'm spending so much time looking at other fun blogs that I barely make it to the bathroom. (This also has to do with being about 7 months pregnant!) It doesn't help that I start laughing on my way there because I am just like my own Livia.
Livia. . . oh, Livia. So many times in the past few weeks she has said, "potty, Mommy". . . and then as we near the potty she sighs a REALLY big sigh. "Oh, man." she says. . . And by these things I know that we are TOO LATE. She tells me, she tries to make it, but then she also plays out my role for me. (Guess I need to lighten up, huh?!) She almost makes it. . .
And tonight, in the bathroom, I was thinking that she and I are a lot alike.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Funny Mis-speaks
Rhyle was giggling in bed tonight when he reminded me that "when Owen was 2 he said TOOT instead of FOOT."
The kids think these are really funny, and Braden and I can barely remember the things we thought they would always say.
Right now, Livia says "pippen" for sit-and-spin. It's still hard for me to figure out, sometimes! She also says "candle" for sandal. . . and my favorite, "blum" for drum.
What a miracle and mystery life is! Oh, I marvel at our Creator! Especially now as this new little one grows inside of me, I think of His infinite love and care, that He is responsible for every breath. Learning to crawl, to walk, to speak, to love. . .these are all amazing beyond comprehension. I'm so glad my children remind me.
The kids think these are really funny, and Braden and I can barely remember the things we thought they would always say.
Right now, Livia says "pippen" for sit-and-spin. It's still hard for me to figure out, sometimes! She also says "candle" for sandal. . . and my favorite, "blum" for drum.
What a miracle and mystery life is! Oh, I marvel at our Creator! Especially now as this new little one grows inside of me, I think of His infinite love and care, that He is responsible for every breath. Learning to crawl, to walk, to speak, to love. . .these are all amazing beyond comprehension. I'm so glad my children remind me.
Friday, May 4, 2007
From Rhyle:
This morning at breakfast we were talking about going to Amazement Square today. "Who will be there?" Owen asked. (thinking, I'm sure, that sometimes we meet friends at the children's museum.)
"I'm not sure." I replied.
"Somebody." Owen said decisively.
"Whobody?" Rhyle asked.
"I'm not sure." I replied.
"Somebody." Owen said decisively.
"Whobody?" Rhyle asked.
10...9...8...
This is a neat "trick" that has proven helpful with each of my children. I was reminded of it yesterday when I was busy in the kitchen cutting up salad veggies. Livia came to my legs and said, "Up, please, Mommy!" I told her that I couldn't hold her while I was cutting with a knife. She repeated, "Up, PLEASE, Mommy!" and the scene replayed itself several times. Finally, and without letting go of my leg, she started counting, "10...9...8...7..."
I started counting backwards with Owen (when he was small); it dawned on me that he couldn't comprehend that I just needed a LITTLE more time until I could... hold him, read to him, help him, etc. Sometime I count VERY slowly. Sometimes we count from ten more than once. Yet every time I think it helps. They are involved, participating (or even initiating as Livia did!) in counting, and they have ceased whining and asking for something because they are confident that they will get it after they have reached "one...pick me up!" I can take a few more seconds to quickly finish the task at hand, but I am maintaining the integrity of my word by actually doing what I said I would when I said I would. (How often am I guilty of saying, "I'll do it in a minute." and then letting many, many minutes go by before I follow through? In some instances, I know I am hoping that they will forget what they asked me and then I'll be released from doing it. . . however, my conscience before God has pricked me and I am no longer able to do this without remorse. Thanks be to God!)
So, moms and grandmoms and others out there: you may want to try the 10...9...8 Trick.
I started counting backwards with Owen (when he was small); it dawned on me that he couldn't comprehend that I just needed a LITTLE more time until I could... hold him, read to him, help him, etc. Sometime I count VERY slowly. Sometimes we count from ten more than once. Yet every time I think it helps. They are involved, participating (or even initiating as Livia did!) in counting, and they have ceased whining and asking for something because they are confident that they will get it after they have reached "one...pick me up!" I can take a few more seconds to quickly finish the task at hand, but I am maintaining the integrity of my word by actually doing what I said I would when I said I would. (How often am I guilty of saying, "I'll do it in a minute." and then letting many, many minutes go by before I follow through? In some instances, I know I am hoping that they will forget what they asked me and then I'll be released from doing it. . . however, my conscience before God has pricked me and I am no longer able to do this without remorse. Thanks be to God!)
So, moms and grandmoms and others out there: you may want to try the 10...9...8 Trick.
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