Many of you know that this past weekend I went to visit my dad for his 51st birthday. Many of you also know that my dad is quite sick. He was diagnosed with lung cancer a few years back and has been receiving treatments since then. His cancer had spread to his lymph nodes and adrenal gland and, more recently, to his brain. I hadn't seen him since early December 2010, even though we do talk on the phone often enough.
I had been anticipating that this visit would be difficult since his health has taken a turn for the worse over the past couple of months. I was quite anxious about going, and really thought it would just be better and easier to just keep putting this visit off.
Boy I'm glad I went.
Our weekend with my dad was really quite nice. Yeah he's sick, and yeah he slept a lot and couldn't do as much as he would have liked, but that wasn't our focus this time around. His illness was present, and it was a factor, but I didn't feel like it overshadowed our time together. There was a lot of simple joy and peace floating around, a lot of smiles. Some moments I will cherish forever are...
... hearing my dad randomly, and repeatedly, say "Hi Levi/Asher, I love you"
... going to the horse races with my dad, his old regular Saturday afternoon hang out spot, and Asher especially enjoying this experience.
... seeing the pride and love in my dad's face as he introduced his grandsons to people.
... laying on my dad's couch, with Asher beside me, and my dad on the opposite couch, watching TV together. How could I forget Storage Wars?
... my dad waking up from a nap, turning over, looking and smiling at me, before going back to sleep again.
... my dad's birthday on Sunday. It was such a good day - he went to church and enjoyed a little gathering with family and food from his favorite chicken place to celebrate.
... 4 generations in one room - wow, so awesome. I want to remember this blessing forever.
... enjoying quiet moments together, just sitting and talking about nothing and everything.
... my dad joking about his 3-hour nap only being a 15-minute nap. I love his sense of humour.
Thank you to those lovely friends of mine who were lifting me up in prayer while we were gone. I felt your prayers with me each moment of our visit. It meant so much to have support in all of this.
I'm so glad I went. There was peace, there was joy, and there was love.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Thankful Thursday
Confession - I've been going to a Zumba class the past few weeks. It started out as being pretty brutal and I couldn't follow many of the moves. I did have a lot of fun that first class though so I decided to keep going.
I'm 4 classes in and now I'm really having fun. I'm catching on the the moves (the instructor even mentioned that I was learning fast - sweet!) and I'm sweating like a maniac. I'm thankful for this.
It's fun to sweat again, even in the awkward places.
It's fun to get lost in a song and forget your exercising.
It's fun to dance to really loud music.
I feel good after I've done a class.
Just the simple fact that I've started exercising again has made me more conscious of what, and how much, I'm eating.
I guess the next thing for me is a belly dance skirt - I really want one. I think that means I'm on my way to being a Zumba freak, and I kinda like it :)
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thankful Thursday
Asher is sick. He has had a cough and runny nose for a few days now, and fever just started yesterday. We went to the clinic and the doctor says his ears and lungs are clear, but his throat is red. He swabbed his throat for Strep Throat, but thinks it's likely just a viral thing that needs to run it's course.
To control the fever we are dosing him with Tylenol and Advil. He hates taking the liquid form of these medicines and often times gets so upset about it that he vomits. Last night he threw up all over me. Literally.
However, it's times like these that I need to be super diligent about remaining thankful. And so for today I am thankful for...
... my husband's support. Having another person to help clean up vomit, fetch water, come to doctor's appointments, and get up in the middle of the night with you makes the burden so much more bearable.
... my mother. Even though I'm 30, I often want to call my mom when some one's sick and hear her tell me it's going to be alright.
... that my children are in relatively good health. Times like these are stressful on our family and I'm so thankful that all we've had to deal with is colds and flu's. I would take this any day over something more serious. I remind myself of this often in these moments.
... cuddling with Asher. When he's sick, he wants his Mama, too. Over the past 24 hours I've had plenty of cuddle moments, and I'm so thankful that he finds comfort in my presence.
... accessible health care. Being able to get in to see a doctor within a matter of hours of his fever starting, and hearing that his lungs and ears are clear from infection is a blessing.
... pharmacists who consult over the phone. We're going to try chewable Tylenol and Advil, as per his advice. I thought we'd try this before going to suppository versions of those meds. Wish us luck!
... that, so far, Levi and the rest of us are free and clear of any of Asher's symptoms. Let's hope it stays that way!
To control the fever we are dosing him with Tylenol and Advil. He hates taking the liquid form of these medicines and often times gets so upset about it that he vomits. Last night he threw up all over me. Literally.
However, it's times like these that I need to be super diligent about remaining thankful. And so for today I am thankful for...
... my husband's support. Having another person to help clean up vomit, fetch water, come to doctor's appointments, and get up in the middle of the night with you makes the burden so much more bearable.
... my mother. Even though I'm 30, I often want to call my mom when some one's sick and hear her tell me it's going to be alright.
... that my children are in relatively good health. Times like these are stressful on our family and I'm so thankful that all we've had to deal with is colds and flu's. I would take this any day over something more serious. I remind myself of this often in these moments.
... cuddling with Asher. When he's sick, he wants his Mama, too. Over the past 24 hours I've had plenty of cuddle moments, and I'm so thankful that he finds comfort in my presence.
... accessible health care. Being able to get in to see a doctor within a matter of hours of his fever starting, and hearing that his lungs and ears are clear from infection is a blessing.
... pharmacists who consult over the phone. We're going to try chewable Tylenol and Advil, as per his advice. I thought we'd try this before going to suppository versions of those meds. Wish us luck!
... that, so far, Levi and the rest of us are free and clear of any of Asher's symptoms. Let's hope it stays that way!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Lately I have been...
... not sure if Asher is a toddler or a preschooler?? He's 3 years and 4 months.
... dealing with a sick toddler/preschooler and a teething baby.
... picking up a very happy, and well-behaved, boy from Roxy's school.
... NOT cleaning up pee accidents. I think we almost got this (knock on wood)!
... buying poop prizes - that one's still a work in progress :(
... hearing Levi say ball, all done, and Mama.
... sorting kid clothes.
... reading Sarah's Key (just finished it the other day... whoa, difficult, but amazing, book)
... remembering.
... planning.
... visiting.
... emailing.
... eating.
... budgeting.
... preparing Sunday School type lesson plans for church.
... watching my husband drain our little pool.
... getting the last of the zucchini, squash, and cucumbers from our garden - the ones the cucumber bugs didn't destroy :(
... hoping our tomatoes and ground cherries mature and ripen before the frost hits.
... trying out a Zumba class, and liking it.
... realizing at aforementioned Zumba class that I have some bladder control issues after birthing 2 babies. This is not good.
... reminding myself to do kegels. (Mandi - do your kegels!!)
... wearing flip flops for as long as I can.
... dealing with a sick toddler/preschooler and a teething baby.
... picking up a very happy, and well-behaved, boy from Roxy's school.
... NOT cleaning up pee accidents. I think we almost got this (knock on wood)!
... buying poop prizes - that one's still a work in progress :(
... hearing Levi say ball, all done, and Mama.
... sorting kid clothes.
... reading Sarah's Key (just finished it the other day... whoa, difficult, but amazing, book)
... remembering.
... planning.
... visiting.
... emailing.
... eating.
... budgeting.
... preparing Sunday School type lesson plans for church.
... watching my husband drain our little pool.
... getting the last of the zucchini, squash, and cucumbers from our garden - the ones the cucumber bugs didn't destroy :(
... hoping our tomatoes and ground cherries mature and ripen before the frost hits.
... trying out a Zumba class, and liking it.
... realizing at aforementioned Zumba class that I have some bladder control issues after birthing 2 babies. This is not good.
... reminding myself to do kegels. (Mandi - do your kegels!!)
... wearing flip flops for as long as I can.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Thankful Thursday
This week, school started, and Asher returned to "Roxy's school". I've been so nervous about him returning, thinking about how he'll do, and what challenges we may have. Will he have pee accidents there? Will he listen? How will he feel about the new teachers and children in his class? Also, a part of me has been sad to let him go in this little way again. We've had a great summer together and I think I'll miss him when he's gone.
He has been so excited to return, though, and that has made this transition easier. Here he is getting ready to head out the door for his first morning back.
And here he is at preschool with one of his little friends who is also returning from last year.
Asher was a little shy when I dropped him off, especially around the new teacher, but he wasn't sad when I left. Today was also his first time in big boy underwear at preschool.
When I returned to pick him up (3 hours later) the teachers said he had a fabulous day! He didn't pee on the potty, but he didn't have any accidents either. He was one of the only kids who actually sat during circle time, and there were no problems to report. He was happily playing in the sand box raking when I picked him up, and he told me he didn't want to come home.
I'm so glad that he is well-behaved at preschool, and that he did so great today with the potty business. I'm thankful that the preschool is so close to home, that he likes his teachers and friends there, and that I get to have some one-on-one time with Levi in my week (Asher gets lots of one-on-one time during Levi's morning naps).
And even though this little letting go is hard, I know it's good for him, and for me.
Roxy's school, I think we're both thankful for that one!
He has been so excited to return, though, and that has made this transition easier. Here he is getting ready to head out the door for his first morning back.
And here he is at preschool with one of his little friends who is also returning from last year.
Asher was a little shy when I dropped him off, especially around the new teacher, but he wasn't sad when I left. Today was also his first time in big boy underwear at preschool.
When I returned to pick him up (3 hours later) the teachers said he had a fabulous day! He didn't pee on the potty, but he didn't have any accidents either. He was one of the only kids who actually sat during circle time, and there were no problems to report. He was happily playing in the sand box raking when I picked him up, and he told me he didn't want to come home.
I'm so glad that he is well-behaved at preschool, and that he did so great today with the potty business. I'm thankful that the preschool is so close to home, that he likes his teachers and friends there, and that I get to have some one-on-one time with Levi in my week (Asher gets lots of one-on-one time during Levi's morning naps).
And even though this little letting go is hard, I know it's good for him, and for me.
Roxy's school, I think we're both thankful for that one!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
At 12 months...
Levi weighs 24.5 lbs. This is the 75 percentile for his age.
Levi is 31.5 inches long. This is the 90 percentile for his age.
Levi's head circumference is 49.5 centimeters. This is the 100 percentile for his age.
Healthy boy, big head, that's Levi.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Thankful Thursday - water park edition
Some wonderful and dear friends of ours shared free tickets with us to our local water park yesterday. Greg took the day off to stay home with Levi while Asher and I joined our friends for a fun-filled, sun-shiny day. We had an awesome time! It was so great to get to spend some one-on-one time with Asher - something that I don't get to do very often these days. He tried a few new things (2 water slides and a lazy river), even though he was initially apprehensive. I will cherish the moments we spent snuggling as we floated down the lazy river together - he just laid on me in the tube, and we talked and cuddled. He also had no accidents and even told me he had to pee - this is progress. Asher was really well-behaved all day, and it brought my heart joy to have a lovely and easy day with him. What an awesome time - and a big reason to be thankful this week!
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