Thankful Thursday

This Thursday I am thankful for our planet. I know this may sound funny but I saw an article with a picture captured by the Hubble about a planet that is A LOT bigger than ours being devoured by the sun. It really humbled me. It made me stop and think about the fact that although planet Earth seems so large (there are parts of it I will never see) it really is so small compared to the universe we are a part of. It made me think about how amazing it is that we are here, living, breathing, and enjoying the life we are. Thus, I am thankful for the planet Earth and all it gives us. Now maybe I wont complain as much when I have to rinse out a peanut butter jar or examine the cardboard to see if it is the one that you can recycle because my husband is such a big advocate of recycling everything you can. After all, he is just making sure we do our part to keep our Earth healthy! :)

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

Wordless Wednesday

Making Friends on Children's Sunday

It is so bittersweet to see your son growing before your eyes. Cole is a shy little guy and has started really making some gains branching away from me. (See Monday's picture too.) He is venturing away from me more, playing on his own more, and seeking play with other children more! I love it! Mommy is so proud of you Cole!

Mom Monday

Can you spot the brave but obviously nervous little man? :)

You Know You Are A Mom When...

- You are proud of the smallest things like the photo above...your son sitting with the group of kids by himself for the first time (even though you were only a few feet in front of him!)

- You realize your "chores" now take 3 times as long to do because you have a "helper."

- Enjoying the weather outside used to be sitting in a chair on the porch reading a book. Now it is giving wagon rides, mowing the lawn with a toy mower, playing with cars on the front lawn or playing ball on the front lawn.

- You often fall asleep on the couch at night because you are so exhausted at the end of the day that when you sit down to rest for just a second after putting your son down for bed you somehow end up sleeping there!

- You used to be worried about the spot on your shirt and now you get so many from your son that you don't think twice about if anyone notices them!

- You spend each day living for the moments you get to spend with your son.

What do you have to add?

And the Winner is.....

.....Karen!

Congrats Karen! You have won the book "The Shack." I found it very inspiring and I hope you do too! It also comes with a pretty bookmark! Congratulations again!

Thanks to all who entered. This was fun! I will definitely be doing another give-a-way so keep following :)

Poll Results: Carrying A Child for Another?

Well this one surprised me. I was surprised that many of you said that you would do it for a friend or family without a doubt. I have a friend having trouble getting pregnant and she and her husband said they have not considered asking a family or friend because they felt it is way to much to ask of someone but apparently to many of you, it is not!

I would be interested to know if of those who said yes they would do it, do you have children already? The reason I ask this is that prior to having children, I said I would do it in a heartbeat. Right after having Cole, I said I would and felt even more sure about it. However, now, after thinking it over more and with Cole being older, I worry about my health. I still insist I could handle it emotionally (my husband is not so sure but I am.) However, after knowing what I know now about pregnancy and childbirth, I worry that something could go wrong and if something happened to me, I would be leaving my child without a mother. Thus, I now do not know if I would do it for a friend. For my brother or sister? That would be a tougher decision. I would definitely be torn on that one. All of me would want to do it but a little part of me would worry about if something went wrong. Also, at the point I am at in my life right now, where I want more children but my biological clock is ticking faster than most due to my endometriosis and PCOS, I agree with my husband that I would worry about doing it now and missing my chance for another child by carrying one for someone else. Thus, I think I would at least have to be sure I was done having my own children first. Sigh...it sounds so selfish I know. However, I do think there are times you have to put yourself and your family first and this is one of them for me.

Carrying a child and giving birth is an amazing experience. Having a child to raise is amazing. If I could give this gift to another person, I would be so honored. However, what about the risks? Anyone have thoughts to share?

Wordless Wednesday- Working Man!

Note: If you haven't already, don't forget to check out last Friday's post for my first ever give-a-away! Only a few days left to get in on a chance (or two or three!) to win!

Tuesdays for Trent

The big message I want to get across in this post for my brother Trent is to go to my sidebar on the top right of my page and click to donate to our walk on Saturday! No donation is too small! All donations are tax deductible and each donation is greatly appreciated!

My brother is so amazing for going through all he has at such a young age and maintaining his composure, strength, and determination through it all. People just don't realize the devastation this disease brings unless they have it or know someone well who does. The pain and embarrassment is one thing. The uncertainty of what life ahead may look like is another. The dedication to keeping yourself healthy is yet another.

My brother is on meds that cause other diseases and all to try to control the disease he has now that has no cure. He can't sit and have a hamburger and fries or an ice cream like we do. He can't shop at the local grocery store. You think your grocery bill is high? You should see his! You think your prescription you picked up at the pharmacy is pricey? Try getting an infusion each week that costs thousands of dollars each time! You wish you had insurance or wish yours was better? Try living with a disease that means you CANNOT let your insurance lapse because besides the fact that you have a pre-existing condition, you can't afford the cost of your disease without insurance.

People don't understand how bad Crohn's and Colitis are. People look healthy from the outside (most of the time.) People put on smiling faces. People make do without you knowing. But the physical, emotional, and financial strain is great. You just don't know it if you don't know someone with Crohn's or Colitis.

So I ask again, do you think you can afford to give just a dollar?

Mom Monday

You Know You're A Mom When...

- You get excited when you find coupons for diapers or wipes and go back to a store several times when you find they are having a sale on the diapers you use.

- You never went to Sunday School as a child but you attend it regularly now as an adult.

- You eat the skin off apples instead of the whole apple (your son eats the other part.)

- You and your husband spend forever getting ready for camping this year because bringing along a very active toddler now means making a lot of accommodations.

- You spend the weekend with your husband redoing a wagon that someone was going to throw away that you both knew your son would love and figured it only need a little TLC but now it is way more work than you thought but you can't get rid of it because your son has already fallen in love with it!

What do you have to add?

19 Months!

What? Cole is 19 months you say? Where does the time go? My husband said the other day, "Don't you wish we could go back to when he was little again since we know what we do now and could enjoy it more?" (He was sooooo colicky his first 3 months we still don't know how we made it through.) My answer? "No. I have loved every moment since the day I knew I was going to have him." My husband said there is no way I enjoyed every moment. But honestly, I did. I didn't know if I could even get pregnant, carry a child successful, etc. so I made sure to treasure every moment. I consider Cole such a blessing I have cherished every moment. Yes, there were times I cried and felt overwhelmed and wasn't sure how I would make it through but I still cherished them. I don't want to go back. I am excited for each new day with Cole and although I cherish the past, I am thrilled for the future. I pray I am able to do it all again with a sibling for Cole. God willing. I do not however wish I could turn back the clock or freeze time with Cole. I am happy with him right now, in this present moment and I am cherishing each passing minute with him.

So, what is the big 19 month old up to?

- Watching (well if you call sitting for 5 minutes and then looking up once in a while when playing with his toys watching) Finding Nemo and Shrek for movies and for TV (Chugington, Whinnie the Pooh, Mickey's Clubhouse, and Oso.)

- Loving food.

- Loving helping.

- Loving cleaning, mowing the lawn and being outside.

- Loving books and reading books himself.

- Being a baby or talking about a baby lately...not sure what is up with that.

- Wearing size 2T in general and size 7 1/2 shoe as well as a size 6 diaper. Even with cutting out your bedtime bottle you still need an overnight diaper too!

- Still drinking 2 bottles a day.

- Loving his blanket and lion still.

- Still being a shy little boy who has just started "leaving the comfort of Mommy" just a little lately.

Happy 19 months my big boy! I am so proud of you and I love you more than you will ever know.

Fridays Fun Facts AND My First Giveaway!

Here are a few things Cole has been up to...

- Driving Papa's tractor.
- Swim lessons (he loves it!)
- Mowing our lawn (with the toy mower of course!)
- He tried grapefruit and liked it!
- Pooping in the tub (it finally happened.)
- Telling us when he is in the act of pooping now.
- He just got another haircut today...he looks so handsome!
- Biting still! He left a mark on my from yesterday.
- Talking more (Mommy loves this.)
- Showing more and more independence...bittersweet.

And now for the giveaway!

I just finished the book "The Shack." It is an amazing book so I will be giving away a copy of it! If you would like to enter to win this book you can enter three different ways.

1. Become a follower of my blog.
2. Leave a comment letting me know what state/country you reside in.
3. Leave a comment letting me know what you like about my blog/would like to read more about.

If you do all three of these you will get 3 entries! If you are already a follower just say that in your comment. Drawing will be next Friday! Good luck!

Here is a quick summary of the book to help you decide if you are interested....A man's daughter is taken under his watch. In his quest to come to terms with this he "meets" God and has a "weekend" with him. I am being vague so as not to ruin the book for those who haven't read it. If you are not deeply religious I think you will still get something from this book. I got four strong messages myself...

1. Maybe your dreams are more real than you think...maybe it really is where you can visit those who have passed before you.

2. We must forgive no matter how bad we have been wronged (even the man who kidnaps your daughter.) If you do not forgive then that man always has a hold on you. Forgiving is not forgetting (this really resonated with me.)

3. God forgives all (even the worst offenders.) We are all His children so just as you would always forgive your child, He forgives His.

4. You never know the circumstances of others so you should never judge (no matter how hard this is.) God is the ultimate judge and jury.

Again, this is what I took from the book. My brother is not really religious and he loved the book (read it in one weekend.) I think no matter your religious beliefs, you will enjoy it too. So, if you agree, do the above to enter to win this book:

Thankful on Thursday...

It is late, I am tired, it has been a long work week and a busy week in general. My boys are sleeping right now but lately the little man wakes at least once, which means I will too and thus, I should go to bed right now. I still need to shower too. However, I am on the computer typing this post. Why? Because I feel compelled to. Why? Because something greater than me has been working within me this week. I feel it deeply and I am so thankful for it. It has been showing me in so many ways how lucky I am. Little subtle ways. Something as simple as a T.V. show has made me think about this. Something as simple as a post a fellow blogger writes. Something as simple as watching a patient's husband/wife be with them through the most difficult and possibly last days of their life. Little things that have had deep meaning to me. I need to be more thankful for my husband.

I take my husband for granted a lot but when it comes right down to it, he is my best friend. He is my partner in life. He is my rock when I feel like I can no longer be strong. He is the father of our precious son. He is silly when I need him to be and he can have a serious conversation with me when I need that.

I think lately in the hustle and craziness of life I have focused only on the negative about him and I have focused only on my needs to be validated by him. I have not taken the time to remember how lucky I am to have him and I have not taken the time recently to think about what life would be like without him. I am an independent woman who likes to think I can stand on my own. The truth though? I don't ever want to have to know life without him. I may be strong, I may be independent and I may be capable of a lot but I am who I am right now because of him and I am a much better person, wife and mother because of him. I am thankful for him. Thank you God for helping remind me of this. I needed it. I am thankful.

Wordless Wednesday...He Loves His Papa

Tuesdays for Trent

As many of you know, my brother Trent has Crohn's Disease. Each year our family walks in the "Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis" 3 mile walk in our area. Each year we exceed our fundraising goal. This year though, with all the ups and downs we have had with Trent's health, fundraising for the walk went on the back burner.

Now, the walk is less than 2 weeks away and we are not even close to meeting what we made last year. My goal this year is $3,000, which is just over what my family (with the work of my Uncle Tom, who has colitis, and his wife as well) raised.

Wont you please support us by donating even just a dollar to our walk? Click on the link to the left on my blog to donate today. 80 cents of every dollar goes directly to helping patients! And as always, your donation is tax deductible. Please show us your support!

With that said, for those of you who don't know about my brother and Crohn's and Colitis, here is a quick review.

My brother was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at age 14. He has been hospitalized for it several times and lost a lot of weight. They suspect the cyst on his kidney is a result of a medication he has to take to keep his Crohn's "in remission."

Crohn's diease and Colitis are digestive diseases without a known cause or cure and people do die from them. They cause sever abdominal pain, diarreha, and weight loss to name a few. I can remember while they were trying to figure out what my brother's severe abdominal pains were from he once said to me, "Jenn, it feels like someone is taking a knife, stabbing it in my stomach and twisting it."

Due to the "embarrassing symptoms" these diseases often cause, Crohn's and Colitis are not often talked about. Thus, the diseases are not often well known and don't get a lot of publicity like other diseases. However, great "steps" have been made and will continue to be made with your help. Donations go to research on the disease, new medications, and education...all things that are greatly needed.

So again, I ask (heck I will even beg) you to donate to this cause as we "Take Steps and Be Heard" on May 22nd for Crohn's and Colitis.

Mom Monday

First, Happy Belated Mother's Day to all Mom's! I also want to recognize all those who want to be Moms. I say this because I was there and I know how hard the day can be when you want it so badly for yourself.

With that said, you know you're a Mom when...

- You, your husband (and you suspect your son) have allergies but you gladly accept the "flowers" (aka dandelions) your son picked for you and consider putting them in your house in a vase (instead you take a picture of him with them.)

- Mowing the lawn now takes twice as long because you have to keep stopping to wave to your son who is on the porch watching you :)

- You go out to dinner and order your meal according to what your son will eat off your plate.

- You get up on Mother's Day at 4AM because your son decided to wake up then (after you stayed up until 1 AM enjoying some time to yourself) and actually aren't that upset about it!

- You decide you definitely can no longer stay up until 1 AM!

- Mother's Day is no longer just about thanking your Mom but now also about thanking God for making you a Mom.

What do you have to add?

Fridays Fun Facts

Too cute...Tony found his cross from his confirmation class and Cole insisted on wearing it all day. It now hangs on Cole's closet door :)

Hmmm....what has Cole been up to lately?

1. Hitting! Whenever he does not get his way or does not like the option lately he hits. Sigh. The hitting had stopped for a bit but is back with a vengeance. Time outs are happening at least once a day now :(

2. Swim lessons! He missed his first class (last week) because of the fever virus he had but he made it to this week's class and LOVED it. He even let me pour water on his head, which I didn't know if he would like. He smiled and laughed his whole way through the class. It was definitely worth putting a bathing suit on for :)

3. Basketball. He is his father's son for sure. We walked by the gym at the Y and he was so into the basketballs and even more into the teenage boys shooting some hoops. I guess it really is in the bloodline :)

4. Eating. After a hiatus while he was sick, he is back to eating full force. He still eats the same usual stuff and I really feel like I need to expand his meal options. He loves to eat snacky items but I need to get him eating more of a variety of meals. He is good about "just try it" right now so that is good. Today he tried red peppers, green peppers mushrooms and steak tips. He isn't much of a meat kid, but neither am I since my pregnancy with him, so to see him ask for more small bites of steak tips was great.

5. Outside. The weather is getting warmer and Cole is loving that. He still loves to be outside whenever possible.

6. Clothes. We are so lucky to keep getting hand me downs from people. Cole wears anything from 24 months to 3T and is a size 7.5 shoe. Everyone who meets him thinks he is three. When I tell them his real age they always say, "Wow. He is a big boy!"

7. Naps. He continues to take one lasting 1.5 to 2 hours each day (except today...he fell asleep on our way to get stuff for dinner and slept on my shoulder all through the store. He thought that was his nap. Cutest thing though was that when I tried to put him down for a nap later he said, "yeah" and gathered his stuff for his nap and went to his room...lol. He didn't sleep but entertained himself in his crib for a half hour...too cute! I have such a good boy. Well, except for the hitting of course!

8. Bottles. He still gets two a day (sometimes we skip the afternoon one if he eats a late lunch.) We just dropped his "snack" before bed. We had dropped it to just 2 oz. and when he was sick and didn't take it we just never gave it back. He hasn't seemed to notice yet (hopefully he doesn't) and a positive is that he seems to not be over peeing his diapers or filling them to the brink so much. Who knew 2 oz. could make such a difference!?

9. Soda bottles. For some reason he loves them. He loves to pretend to drink from them. He loves to use them in the tub as tub toys, he loves to have you put a little water in it so he can drink from it, and he loves to put the cap on and off. Silly boy.

10. Reading. He still loves to be read to and loves to read to you. He will point to himself and say his name (it comes out as "toll") and then say nothing as he looks at and turns the pages. I think it is cute; it drives my husband nuts :)

11. Cole. He is all about referring to himself right now. He will say "toll" will do it or it is "toll's" turn. It is cute.

12. Papa's tractor. He loves to go for tractor rides and even operates the bucket and hazard lights :) He insists on wearing his "papa hat" every day (a hat with a tractor on it) but it is getting a little snug so I am going to have to look for a replacement!

13. Language! He has always had a great receptive vocabulary but hasn't been much of a big talker but lately I am really noticing him becoming a parrot, which this SLP Mommy loves! He says so much I cannot begin to name it all but his latest thing is saying, "Man!" He got this from me. I said, "Oh man!" the other day when I forgot his tub toy at the swim class and had to turn the car around to go get it and he hasn't stopped saying it since! LOL.

14. He continues to make every day a wonderful one for me! (I had to put this one not only because it is true but because I don' like odd numbers...lol. That is another post.)

Spring Clean-up

At the end of March Cole and I took advantage of some warm weather and the new rake and shovel his Daddy bought him to clean out the flower bed a little.

Thankful Thursday!

I continue to be ever thankful for the news my family received last Wednesday night regarding my brother. He has not been able to catch up with the surgeon to find out what the next steps are but we are just praising God right now that He answered our largest prayer to heal my brother so that he would not need surgery.

I am also so thankful for the power of prayer. So many prayed and the strength we gained from that (as well as the healing power!) was amazing.

I also prayed over Cole each night while he was sick (as I often do every night anyway) and I am so thankful to report that God appears to have helped heal my son without the need for antibiotics or tests to determine what was wrong with him. His fever broke, he is eating more and today he woke up laughing (at 5 AM...but that was the best wake up call I have gotten!)

I am also thankful that God has heard my prayers about my father. He is retired from his job now (earlier than he had thought he would be retired) however God blessed him with an opportunity to work with my Uncle so he would not have to go without a job. God graced us even more though by allowing him the opportunity to work at the job he just retired from for a few months as a contracted employee so aside from a few changes, not much has really changed for my father and his job and we are all so thankful for that. Things could have been so much worse, as it has been for so many given the economy, but our prayers have been answered. God is good.

Finally, I am thankful for the chance to visit with my sister while she was here from TX (she is now on to NM.) Since Cole was sick and we we thought Trent was having surgery, we weren't able to get together at first. However, all that changed and I got to see her a few times and meet her boyfriend (who we all like...including Cole, which says a lot since he is such "check 'em out first" kid.) Can't wait to see you again Kris! Hope to see Michael too!

So, what are you all thankful for this Thursday?

Wordless Wednesday

Poll Results: Best Time to Have a Child?

I honestly do not remember what I voted for...Mommy brain strikes again! I was surprised at the results. I thought more people would pick summer because if you get maternity leave then you have the summer off...I suppose if you are a teacher though or a stay-at-home mom then you get summer off anyway! I did breastfeed Cole and I heard from another breastfeeding Mom that doing so in the heat of summer is awful and I suspect being 9 months pregnant and delivering in the heat of summer is no fun either! I was nearing the end of my breastfeeding journey with Cole by peak summer so it wasn't too bad.

I am surprised most people picked spring and if anyone who picked it cares to explain why, I am interested in knowing.

It was no surprise to me that nobody picked Winter.

I have mixed opinions about Fall. It is my favorite time of year. I got married in the Fall and I had my son in the Fall. It was nice to have him when I did as I got Thanksgiving off as well as Christmas and New Year's before I had to return to work. However, knowing what I know now, it was also the worst time to have him since it can be scary where it is cold and flu season. Looking back, I am surprised I didn't worry more and consider myself thankful Cole made it through his first few months without problems.

As I told a friend, I don't know that there really is a perfect time. I like Fall for the reasons I explained but also don't like it for the reason I explained. Winter does seem like the least likely choice and Summer has its perks and downfalls too. With that said, maybe I just answered my own question...Spring doesn't seem to have many downfalls!

Mom Monday

You Know You're A Mom When....

- You over-think everything involving your child.

- You watch "Nemo" over and over again because it is what your son likes to do when he is sick and that is all that matters.

- You're life practically comes to a stand-still when your child is sick.

- You grocery shop around what your son likes (e.g., you only buy the veggies he likes.)

- The events you look to attend are all focused on ones for children :)

- You spend your couple of days with a college friend talking about your kids and nothing else :)

- When you look in your rearview mirror and don't see a car seat, your car feels empty.

What do you have to add?

Sigh....

I sit here wondering where my little boy who loves to eat the batter of cakes, brownies, etc. and get messy, cause trouble and look at me with his contagious smile has gone. Sigh...he is trapped in a sick little boy's body. He has run a high fever since Tuesday and we didn't do Tylenol today because it has been recalled (hopefully when I go shopping tomorrow the generic brands wont all be bought off the shelves!) He actually did well without the Tylenol avoiding a high fever so I guess that is progress. He has eaten a little but this boy LOVES to eat so the bird size snacking he is doing is not enough for him. He has started taking a bottle again too so hopefully that will help on fluid intake because he is not taking the usual fluid intake he does either...not even close. Finally, he is just not himself. We see a glimpse and then it is gone; replaced by the "don't touch me I hurt", swollen eyed and now as of today, runny nosed and coughing little boy. He sleeps over 10 hours each night now and also takes at least 3 hour naps. Sigh...I want my happy little boy back! I miss his smile! I miss playing with him. I miss him eating us out of house and home. Came back little boy! Go away nasty bug! Sigh....