Nice weekend!

My mom came up for a couple of days to hang out with us. She babysat on Friday night so Zac and I could go out and provided a much needed helping hand on Saturday and Sunday. My dad is a CPA and this is his final push through tax season so he was busy, busy working at home. I'm still throwing up and feeling pretty sick so that's not fun, although I've had a few okay days this past week and so I'm encouraged that it will pass!

Here are some funny Joel saying from the past week or so...

He found a little cat throw-up from a hairball on the floor at my mom's house and ran in to tell her saying, "Nana, the floor had a vomit! It's sick."

He was looking at the dog yesterday (who was laying feet up on the floor) and Joel said, "Tucker has dots on his hands!"

He's so funny....

Jesse, on the other hand, is not so funny. He has what must be his 83rd cold of the winter right now. I actually think it's been one long cold since last September. This kid...I don't know what to do with him because he is constantly sick. The tubes really helped with his ear infections but the sinus stuff just won't go away. We're going back to the doctor this morning because he has a horrible cough. I feel so bad for the little guy. Is it almost summer?!

Back to reality...

Yes, that's what today was after my brief otherwordly experience yesterday. I'm a bit sore! :)

The boys and I hung around the house today after I got Joel from preschool this morning because we were sort of having a mini blizzard. We got 6 or 7 inches of snow, at least, but have drifts of over 18 inches in some places. Crazy! That's spring in Colorado...

Joel had a tough day today, and I think it was even tougher for his mommy. One of his biggest struggles is being able to play. I know that sounds weird for a 3 year old, but it comes along with the territory of autism. He has little imagination or pretend play skills, so that limits things. He also has a really short attention span and a huge need for sensory input--not a great combo. He rarely will go into the playroom and play appropriately with a toy or activity. Even if I get him started or stay with him the whole time and "guide" him. He just gets up and moves around and engages in less than appropriate activities like throwing (everything), touching off-limits electronics and appliances, knocking Jesse's toys off the table or yanking them away from him, etc. It is so draining for me to be trying to "redirect" him all day when he's not the least bit interested in anything I'd like him to do. His much more favorite activity is defying everything I ask him to do. Timeout count today=I lost count after 15. Spankings today=I don't know but I think it's close to the number of timeouts. I feel really discouraged on days like this. I just wish I could help his little brain function correctly in the area of having fun.

One thing he does love to do is eat. So, in a desperate attempt, I decided we should make popcorn balls. He actually was sort of patient while we did it (it took longer than I thought) and he and Jesse really enjoyed the results (okay, so did mommy!). As we were munching away, I thought with a giggle that this is another one of those things that is so different with a second child. I NEVER would have given Joel a popcorn ball at 19 months. Too sweet. Too chokable (is that a word?). Too sticky. But, desperate times call for desperate measure and Jesse was the first to finish his!

Another life!

Yes, I stepped back into one of my former lives this afternoon for a bit. It was weird. A few weeks ago a lady who is a good friend of ours at church asked if I would play with her for a doubles tennis match this afternoon since they needed a sub. She knew I used to play and thought it would be fun for me to get out (how kind of her:!). Apparently Zac even said he would babysit (which he didn't--someone else came). My first reactions were these:

1. Oh, I don't play tennis anymore.
2. I'm blind in one eye now--I think that makes tennis difficult.
3. I'm pregnant. What if I throw up on the court (I didn't, just about did afterwards though).

But, I'm a sucker and since I thought I had babysitting lined up, I figured I might as well give it a try. And....it was fun! Besides the fact that I completely missed several of the balls on my left side, it was okay. Things came back to me and it felt good to do something so un-mommyish. I couldn't help but think it's weird that I used to spend 25+ hours a week very competitively playing this game and I've played probably 4 times in the 7 years since then. Life just kind of got in the way but I realize that I've missed it! Things came back to me and with some practice, I could probably get back into the swing of things. When the boys get a bit older, and I have this baby, I might try to do it some more!

I wanna be just like you...

I think that's what Jesse is thinking a lot. These past few months, I can literally see him studying Joel's every action and word. If Joel gets a yellow cup, Jesse wants one too. When Joel starts laughing or crying, Jesse does the same. They say the same phrases, laugh at the same things, and make the same requests of me. I never realized until now how much of an influence they will have on each other even at this age, especially Joel for Jesse right now. At only 19 months Jesse wants to be just like Joel! It's cute really...except for when he is copying a tantrum.

It goes both ways, too. I was holding Jesse on my lap the other night and Joel climbed up on the couch and tried to sneakily push Jesse off of my lap and climb on himself. I tried to convince them there was room for both but they weren't buying it. This morning, Zac was praising Jesse for pronouncing the "l" sound in a word (something that's hard for Joel too). Joel piped up and said, "No, Jesse doesn't know how to say "l", only Joel can!". Ahhh, the competitions have begun. I think often how important it will be to try not to show favoritism toward either, or always be harping on one or the other. Zac and I want them to feel little competition, and mostly loyalty and love for one another. We tell Joel frequently that he must be kind and gracious to Jesse (and vice versa) because as brothers they have a very special bond that no one else will have with them. That is my prayer for them this day--that they will know this love and spur one another on twoard good deeds and kindness!

(Don't worry, they are hugging in the picture...not torturing one another!)

That's extra appropriate...

The title of my blog (One Day at a Time) feels extra appropriate lately. Nothing hugely exciting has been happening here. Just trying to get through each day and still try to find the enjoyment. I can't wait to start feeling better. Not only do I feel sick, I feel lazy and tired of sitting on the couch all night (and most of the afternoon). Yuck.

Enough whining for now. Oh, that reminds me that both boys have been incredibly whiny lately. I wonder where they are getting that from! :)

Now, funny things.

The other day Joel woke up from his nap and came running into the room saying, "Hi, Mr. Mommy!" I laughed and he said, "I like that smile!"

He told my mom the other day after we prayed at lunch that you can't see God because he is a Spirit, but he's still really here.

I took him to the bathroom at Chik-fil-A the other day and he pooped (that is rare for him in public). He look at it and yelled, "wow, that was a huge one!!" I know I heard some snickers from the other stall. I just laughed really hard.

Last night we were reading a book about Easter and there's a part where the women go to the tomb that Jesus was in and it's empty. At that point, I usually say, "He went to heaven!" Joel, who is still obsessed with numbers (see previous blogs), beat me to it and said, "He's in seven!". I laughed, he looked perplexed then said with a laugh, "I mean heaven!

Even little Jesse is starting to say funny things. When he wants something, like cookies, he'll ask for it and then give me his preferred answer at the same time.
Like this (Jesse): "Want cookies pease. Yah, okay." How can you deny that request?

Sickness and all, still loving these boys!

Not so good...

I tried to be positive for that last post. I should have added on there that one of the other things that Zac is doing really well at lately is taking care of his sick wife and doing extra duty with the boys. Yes, morning sickness is in full effect. Except that apparently my body doesn't understand the term "morning" because mine lasts from when I wake up until when I go to bed again.

On top of feeling like at any moment I am going to toss my cookies, I also feel like if I close my eyes for more than 5 seconds, I will fall asleep. This is very unlike me, the person Zac has voted as the least likely to take a nap...ever.

The boys know something is up. Joel is taking advantage of my weakened state by being incredibly naughty. This doesn't pair well with my very short fuse right now. And Jesse is just being extremely clingy. He follows me all around the house crying, must sit ON my lap at every meal time, and has lost his ability to play alone.

On a side note: I was ridiculously sick when pregnant with Joel, not so much with Jesse, but this time around it has a slightly differnent feel to it. The idea of food is so repulsive to me. With the boys, it was the only thing that made my stomach feel better, even if it was only for 15 mintues. Maybe it means we're having a girl...!! I'm actually trying not to think about this...it's better just to wait and see. Everyone had me convinced that Jesse was a girl too, and well, he obviously is not.

Happy Birthday, Zac!

Those of you that know Zac well realize this is a week late. Sorry, honey. I really wanted to post this sooner...

Happy Birthday!

Zac is seriously one of the most gifted and talented people I know. Really. I am not just saying that because he is my husband. He can sing your socks off--any kind of music you want, opera, pop, worship music. He is becoming really good at the guitar (electric and acoustic). He writes all kinds of music for all kinds of instruments, and it's really amazing. He is so wonderful at his job that people are knocking on his door all day asking for request from him (sing here, speak there, teach this, etc). He preached a sermon at church a few weeks ago that people are still talking about weeks later. And when he preaches, it's like he's been doing it for years. He can discuss theology and philospophy and politics with grace, and knowledge because he really does know what he is talking about. He wants to get a Ph.D. in a million different fields because he is passionate about so many things (and good at them) that he just can't seem to narrow it down!

If he reads this, he will want me to note that God deserves all of the glory for this. And he does. He created an amazing creation in Zac and I know Zac's biggest desire is to see his giftings used for the glory of God. He is really very humble about this but I can brag about him because I'm his wife.

On the homefront, parenting may not come as naturally to him, he never was really a "kid person". But he loves ours SO much. He is growing more every day in this area and the boys are very blessed to have Zac as their dad. He makes them laugh, he disciplines them consistently, he takes them exploring outside and at Home Depot, he does Wrestlemania with them on the bed, and he will get up in the middle of the night to replace pacifiers in the mouths of those who are crying.

So, on this day (in honor of his birthday last week) I want to say how much I love you, husband! Here's to many more years, Lord willing!