Oh, October!

We're a whopping eleven days into this month, and it's been quite a month indeed.  Let's see.  How can I make a yucky couple of weeks sound enjoyable?

On the first day of October, my sweet boys gave to me...  the most priceless picture of my precious three.

Daddy left for a work conference in Indiana this day,

but the boys played well and I held it together.  :) 

On the second day of October, my three kids gave to me...  an awful headache with no great relief.

I worked on a few of this little pin 

while the boys were in school 

(more details to follow),

but when the boys got home

and Daddy not here,

it made for a tough night!

On the third day of October, my husband gave to me...  his return from Indiana, exciting to say the least.

Much to my surprise, though,

Brian didn't feel well.

He was burning up

and spent the night miserably.

On the fourth day of October, Tamiflu gave to me...  all three boys as precaution since my husband tested positively.

The boys spent their day at MDO

learning Fire Safety and having fun

(see Daniel's "fire" tattoos),

while I packed our bags

and picked up prescriptions.

Brian went that morning 

and tested positive for the flu.

On the fifth day of October, my husband offered me...  a home away from the flu at our Mimi's.

To keep the boys well,

they and I headed to Mimi's house

while Brian was sick at home.

Their favorite part at Mimi's?

Her fall decorations...

Especially Scarecrow.

On the sixth day of October, the pediatrician gave to me...  bronchialitis diagnosis for two of my babies.

The boys were so sick throughout the night.

I took them to the pediatrician.

Samuel and Elias both had bronchialitis.

Breathing treatments.  Yay.

On the seventh day of October, the changing weather gave to me...  a fever that made me want to sleep.

I felt terrible when I woke Sunday morning.

I was so cold.

We went home from Mimi's after church.

On the eighth day of October, the Little Clinic gave news to me...  my husband had given the flu to me.

I knew I didn't feel good, 

But the flu?!

Thanks, honey, for sharing. 

Brian stayed home with the boys. 

On the ninth day of October, the day welcomed me...  husband home again and boy's nose very bloody.

Brian took the boys to MDO,

then watched Elias for me

while I slept.

When he went to pick the boys up,

they begged to go to the park.

That's when Samuel fell somehow

on the curly slide.

Busted his nose.  Bloodied his shirt.

(see Samuel's nose above)

On the tenth day of October, the boys gave to me...  lots of exhaustion and Blue Mountain Mystery.

Being sick is rough when you're a mom.

However, you make it work.

Like with lots of t.v., snacks, and "sure"s.

We also got a free dvd code to the Redbox.

That's when we found 

the new Thomas movie was available!

On the eleventh day of October, the good Lord gave to me...  mother's day out, fever free, and my sanity.

We've all got some major congestion,

but the boys are at MDO 

and I'm staring down at this sweet face.

On the twelfth day of October, I'll tell you what I'll do for me...  relax, enjoy, and drink some sweet tea.

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Mister Mail Man

Much to my surprise, my kids love our Mail Mondays.  They actually were asking to go to the post office, and since our mailbox was hit by a suburban, we have to go.  It floors me every time I'm in the post office how friendly the workers are with the boys.  However, last week's visit topped the friendly chart!

The postal worker called us up to the counter, and I said, "Daniel, look, his name starts with a D like your name!"  Daniel replied, "Let me see."  The man smiled, catching on to the fact that he and my 3 year old shared the same name, and started a conversation with my Daniel.  We were turning to leave when postal worker, Daniel, tells us to wait a minute...  He reaches into his desk and tells Daniel that he wanted him to have something with his name on it!  Daniel now has his very own USPS name tag.!

Fearfully Four Months Old

In His 4th Month, Elias:

Weighed 19 lbs and 4 oz (98th percentile).
Was 27 inches long (97th percentile).
Wore sizes 9 and 12 month clothes.
In size 3 diapers.
Slept 8-10 hours a night.
Took two 30 minute naps a day.
Was very smiley and happy.
Still on Zantac (2 mLs twice a day).
Still taking Prevacid.
Wheezing improved.
Rolled from his back to his belly.
Held his head up high.
Was beginning to sit up on his own.
Really liked watching t.v.
Drooled a LOT.
Liked to be sitting up all the time.
Would make sounds like: ah, hi, and oo.
Loved looking at and watching his mommy!
Found his hands and feet!
Was always chewing on his fingers.

Having a little t.v. time with big brother

Was a big fan of Daniel... 

Daniel could always make him laugh!

Loved napping with Daniel.

Eating lunch with Daddy

at Chick Fil A.

First time to ever sit up...

on his own.

Was lying down on the pillow

then pulled himself up to sit.

First time to find his feet.

 Napping with Daniel...  again.

We learned he is allergic to red-dye.

Tried to give him Pedia-lyte

on a day when he was sickish (per the dr)

and his face ended up looking like this.

:(

Fell asleep on Mimi's shoulder.

Sitting up on a Sunday afternoon.

 

These baby blues were looking up at me,

and I couldn't get over how sweet he is!

 

Hello there, feet.

 

Moments after I laid him down on the floor

ON HIS BACK,

he rolled right over onto his belly!

I think it surprised him!  :)

Three.

There is just something about having three children that has really changed my life.  Be it that I now honestly have no time for myself or the fact that I really don't have enough arms...  or eyes.  It could be that I'm constantly picking up messes, changing diapers, making samliches (aka sandwiches), and praying that I'll actually get a shower each day. 

No matter how you see it, life changes when children enter into it.  It's not easy.  It's probably the most challenging thing I have personally ever done.  I lose my temper daily hourly.  I get frustrated, raise my voice, and get so tired of whining and needing to discipline.  There are days when I really wish God would let me go back to teaching, but most days, I realize that my job is to teach these three little boys to love Him.

You see, in these trying moments with my toddlers, I'm forced to lean on God in every circumstance.  I feel I'm far too impatient and unskilled to train them.  However, I'm facing up to the fact that God has allowed me this great opportunity, and He knows what I'm capable of even if I don't.  Despite my many imperfections as a mother, I'm learning to beg Him to change me so that my children can see the change He's done in me. 

Isn't that my job in life?  I was created and made to show others Christ in me.  He designed these boys for me, and He has given me the knowledge (and faith) to take each day as it comes.  Everyone is already asking when we'll have another, and honestly, I don't know what God has in store.  What I'm certain of is that these three boys are the best things God has used to change me and draw me closer to Him.  Life before this seems so incomplete without these precious faces in it.

Oh. My. Words.

Words.  Daniel at 3 years and 4 months old has quite the vocabulary.  However, I've noticed lately that there are a few phrases and words that he just cannot figure out.  He cracks me up with how serious he takes it if we try to correct him.  Instead, he continues to pronounce these wrong, and I cannot help but laugh out loud!

• Lappy Tappy (one of Daniel's favorite candies)
• Lemolaid (pronounced lim-O-laid; one of Daniel's favorite drinks)
• Chicken Lay (Daniel's favorite place to eat)
• Magetnets (pronounced mag-get-nets; things Daniel uses to hang his artwork on the fridge)
• Samulich (promounced sam-uh-litch; one of Daniel's favorite meals)

Daniel also has become an imitator.  He says things he's heard others say, and he now repeats them CONSTANTLY.  It is hilarious (and scary) when he talks because we have NO idea what he's going to come up with.  Here are a few things he's saying lately and where he's heard them:

• Hun (Daniel hears this from me all the time, and now, he completes most of his sentences with it.)
• Son (I say this to him when I am trying to get his attention, and he now calls everyone he knows, "Son.")
• Honey (He'll say this when he REALLY wants something.)

This happened one night before bed when Daniel wasn't wanting to go to sleep:

• Me:  I love you, Daniel. 
• Daniel (to Daddy):  No, she does NOT.

Daniel gave his thoughts on my Barbeque Cups one night:

• Me:  Did you eat supper with Daddy?
• Daniel:  No, you made them too hot.  I don't love spicy.

What Daniel says about school:

• "We didn't go to chapel.  Not today.  Ugh."
• "Isabel hit me in the booty.  I don't like that."
• "I ate my lunchable all gone.  See, Mom?"
• Me:  Daniel, what does bear start with?  "D."  Me:  No, it doesn't.  Try again.  What does ball start with?  "D."  Me:  Do you mean B?  "Yeah, Mom.  That's what I was trying to tell you.  Listen."