Jack's Kindergarten Christmas party

"Now you've just got to get it together.  Just get it together Becca!"

That was the pep talk I was giving to myself at 10:59 this morning as I drove home from Jack's school.  I had arrived an hour early for the party I was trying to attend.

"Learn how to read the handouts.  Is it that hard?  No.  It's not.  But clearly you are having trouble."

Yes.  I was.  I'd been excited about going to this Christmas party for weeks.  I'd talked to a friend about keeping my little ones, but then we all got sick.  Then as a last resort I asked Mike if he could watch them and he could!  I couldn't believe it.  He was scheduled to fly a night flight tonight so he didn't have to go in to work till 3:00.  He didn't mind staying home with the kids while I went to the party.

"But I could have sworn that both handouts we got last week said the party would start at 10:50.  Right, sure you could.  But you were wrong.  Wrong.  Just like with last month's party when you sent the pumpkin pie on the wrong day.  That teacher must think Jack gets all his cognitive ability from his dad.  Actually, he probably does."

Now I was headed home for 45 minutes to fix the kids lunch and check on the baby.  Mike came down with the man flu yesterday --worst case I'd ever seen.  He was useless.  I had intended on leaving the kids with Mike.  What I actually did was leave Mike with the kids.  I felt they could take care of him for 45 minutes.  I'd already given him his vitamin C and a heating pad.  He'd survive while I was gone.

"I wonder if she bought it.  Does she actually think I dropped by just to check and make sure the party is today?  Or does she know I came at the wrong time because I can't keep anything straight?  What again did I say when I walked in?  Oh yes... 'Is the party today?  Cause I'm always afraid I'll get the days mixed up.'   Ha!  I'll bet she was thinking: 'Girl, you DO always get the days mixed up.'  Whatever.  I'm raising four boys.  Give me a break....   Maybe she did actually buy it.  I mean, she responded with: 'Ohh! You can always text me if you want.'  (As if the FOUR handouts weren't enough).  Oh well."

I got home.  The boys were fine.  Ty's eyes blurry from the amount of TV he had watched this morning.  Austin had helped himself to the Danish Butter Cookies and had the tin sitting on the tray of Brady's walker --which he had confiscated.  That kid is a genius.  He knew this was the day to help himself to a box full of sugary goodness.  Who would stop him?   Brady was still napping and  Mike was up and dressed!  What?  He was on death's doorstep when I left him.  Crazy what a vitamin C can do for you.  I made some lunches then left again 25 minutes later.  I'm glad we only live 4 minutes from the school.

"Oh great.  Now I have to walk back in and act like everything is going according to the plans.  Don't blow it Becca.  If you can't get it together, then at least learn to act.  I hope I'm not the only one not in my PJs.  What?  Why are you so nervous?  It's a Kindergarten party.  For your son.  How is this scary?  Now, park here and go on in.  Wait.  Is that Jack's class out playing?  Yes it is.  Why aren't they inside getting ready for the parents?  Is this the right day?"

Yes it was.  A few minutes later the kids filed into the classroom for the party.  I went on in and stood near Jack's table and waited. 

"Well here I am.  Now what do I do with my hands?  And my purse.  Should I put it down?  Should I sit down?  Can we talk in here?  No one's talking.  This is awkward.  Wait, that kid is.  He's talking to me.  Never mind.  He's just telling on the girl next to him for touching the supplies on the table.  Apparently this is a no touching, no talking, stand still and hold your purse type of party....  Oh good, one of the moms is about to get this thing moving."

Jack and the kids were soon busy putting together a foam picture frame.  I got to help Jack's tablemates.  Yay! My hands had something to do!  The kids photos were sweet.  Jack's, however, looked like a surprise picture.  You know what a surprise picture is.  It's when you turn around and "poof!" someone takes a picture of you. "Surprise!  I just took your picture!"  We will be laughing at this one for quite a while.  I need to make sure it always gets returned to the Christmas box each year.

"Speaking of photos.  Take some.  It doesn't seem to be uncool.  Who really knows though.  I'll just pull my phone out and look like I'm checking facebook or something.  No one will ever know I'm taking a picture.  ...except that the flash was turned on.  hmm.  That's par for the day no doubt." 

The party was great.  There were crafts, the kids put together their own mix of munchies, and they each brought a book for the book exchange.  I nearly teared up when the sweet little boy sitting to Jack's left looked at his present and exclaimed, "Mine is from 'Emma!'  Emma!  Thank you!  Thank you for the present!"  It was so so sweet.  True thankfulness.  He thanked her even before he opened it. 

We walked down to the cafeteria for lunch.  I sat with Jack while he ate.  I made him eat the green beans.  He likes green beans, but this was school and Mom's not usually at school so it didn't occur to him to eat them. 

I think Jack was glad I came.  He better have been after the stress it caused me!  But that raised eyebrow grin says it all. 

 

West Texas State Fair and Rodeo

I have a good excuse... really.


Our computer monitor has some sort of electrical short (like I really know) and the power button is messed up and won't stay on. Thus rendering that computer useless.

Mike has been gone the last two weeks on TDY (AF business trip). He took the laptop with him. He's taking online college classes and the computer was a must have.


So I've been without computer access for the last two weeks.



That's why I haven't posted.

Ya'll probably thought my children had been running me ragged and I'd had zero time to post. Well, that was true too, but I'm saving that excuse for later.

The last post I put up was about Hannah coming to visit. If you know Hannah, you know that while she was here she blessed us by taking pictures that make us all look better than we actually do.

And you're right. She did. And here they are:

First thing: Find food.

Ashten told me I had to try the corn. She was right. It was good.

The boys were so hungry and very patient as we scoured the fair grounds for a hand dipped corn dog.

"I'm ... just... so... hungry...."

Mike was a hero. He finally found the hand-dipped corn dogs.

All Jack really wanted to do at the fair was to eat ice cream. I always tell him and Ty, "Good things come to boys who obey." I think I stole that line from Emily. Well, on the way to the fair Jack was saying, "Mom, I'm still obeying!" then he'd wait about 30 seconds and say, "Look Mom, I'm still obeying." He repeated it about 10 times before we told him to be quiet. -It worked, he had to obey the "be quiet" command if he was going to continue being good. Don't know why it took us so long to think of that one...

He was good. He got his ice cream.

The boys loved waving at their good friend, Wyatt, who was riding the merry-go-round.

This group shot was actually THE last thing we did before getting ice cream (I know, the pictures are out of order.) But see the smiles? You can bet we were back there saying, "Smile good and we'll go get ice cream!" Bribery is part of our every day routine of parenting.

I saw this next picture and couldn't figure out what we were doing and why Hannah took a picture of it. I thought, "What did those kids get into?"

Turns out we were just dusting off the dinner before a family pic.

I'm not sure why I thought it was a good idea to get a front row seat, about 20 feet over the ground, with only 14 inches of concrete and a metal bar keeping my children from falling on the cowboys below. Wish I had more horse sense. (har har)

And yes, Hannah made it into a picture. The reason I didn't take the camera from her more often was

1) she doesn't want her camera broken and I don't really trust myself.

2) she was using it on a manual setting which I had no idea how to operate.

3) I had my hands pretty full already

Jack watching the bucking bronco. Jack says his favorite part of the rodeo was the skit done by the rodeo clowns.

Austie

I was looking up Austin's name on a baby naming website. It had the words: "Sibling Names" hyperlinked so I clicked on it. Here are some of the names that go with Austin's name:

See the names Tyler and Jackson! Wow! We had no idea we were that good at coordinating names. Oh and Michael is on there too.

At almost 3 months Austin is just now bringing things to is mouth to chew on, holding his head up very well, has tons of rolls and smiles often. He shrieked for me the other day... melted my heart!

More to report later. I need to go to bed!

Sweet boys and their Mema

photos by Jill Hudson

I got to thinking...

I need to make sure I convey that I think the "Sweet boys" have a sweet Mema. It was so wonderful watching Jack and Ty fall in love again with their grandma. And why not? She came to visit and for over a week gave them everything they needed --including boundries. Her energy was endless... I've got to get on whatever she is taking. She read book after book, took them to the park many times, held and loved on Austin.

It was such a blessing for me to see my boys getting all that love from her. It was also a blessing (and almost goes without saying) that I got to have another mama there helping me take care of the boys. These days I don't feel like I've been able to give them the time that they need. Even last night, I sent Ty to bed with, what I think he would consider "inadequate holding time."

Thank you "sweet" Mema. I had a wonderful time with you here and can't wait till you come visit again.

Jack came downstairs a couple days after Mema had gone home: "I miss Mema, I want her to come back and stay the night again."

Austin

Austin Carter Ellis

Born May 21, 2010

8 lb. 6 oz.

20 inches

My first thought when I saw my third-born was:

"He's big?

A big baby?

How?

How is a 2 week and 2 day EARLY child this big?

Seriously."

How early do I have to have a child in order to get one under 7 1/2 pounds?

Austin came out kicking and screaming --that's how you want to see a newborn baby. It means he is strong (and breathing). He was breathing very well, in fact, too well. His little chest was caving or sinking a little due to the deep breaths he was taking. The observant nurses saw it immediately and said he would need to be checked out to make sure he wasn't having too hard of a time getting air.

Mike and I got to briefly hold little (big) Austin and then they sent him over to NICU for observation.

There he has stayed.

The NICU doc has told us Austin has "Wet Lung Syndrome." Basically this means Austin has left over amniotic fluid in his lungs. He was getting 83% oxygen even with his extremely rapid breathing. The fluid will absorb and be gone. The problem was the rapid breathing would eventually wear Austin out and he'd just give up. His breaths per minute were up to 120 the Doc wants him at 40ish. --Big difference.

At first we were told not to touch him as to not stimulate him any more. They needed him to be calm. Austin is not naturally calm. I could have told you that. We spent 9 months together... we were close.

He was described as "feisty, active, loud, strong." They are keeping him sedated in order to keep him calm (thus controlling the breath rate better).

Now we wait. His lungs will get dry. He is being monitored very closely for any problems that might come up (jaundice, pneumonia, high/low blood sugar) stuff like that.

I'm very pleased with the care he is getting.

The nurses are super good and the doc is outstanding. God is good to provide Austin with not only the care he needs to survive right now, but with EXCELLENT care.

Austin will be fine, there shouldn't be any lasting effects. We are getting lots of help from family and our church family. We are praising God for this sweet boy that we have already fallen in love with and can't wait to bring home. I guess this quote of Mike's could sum up our feelings about having to be apart right now:

"I already miss that little guy."

They were delicious!

He likes muffins.

What would we do with a girl anyway?

Potty Training?

Apparently we are potty training.

The one year old.

Ty's been intrigued with Jack's ability to pee on command. He's been known to stand beside Jack at the toilet and watch. That's not weird is it? The kids got to learn about this sort of thing right?

Then he started pulling up his shirt and looking at his belly.

Next in his broken English, he'd say: "Go potty, go potty Mommy."

So we'd put him up to the toilet like Jack (He's stand on my feet in order to reach) and he'd just grunt and push... sometimes he'd pass gas. --That was really funny.

Then one day, a few drips came out.

Today, on the way home from Greenville, he told us he needed to go potty. We told him to go ahead and go in his diaper. We were on the road and didn't want to stop. He kept whining and telling us he needed to go pee-pee. Jack had to go too, so we pulled the car off the road. Mike and I exit the vehicle. Door simultaneously slide open. Out come the boys, we line 'em up on the side of the road. Mike has Jack, I have Ty. Jack does his business. Ty farts. Then, get this. He goes... and goes... he really had held it. His diaper was dry! This was a for real attempt at bladder control.

So.

I have no choice but to go with it.

I'll keep letting him think this is his idea and won't push it at all. I've got a feeling that he might decide to rebel after the new baby gets here. So I'm not going to let him think I care about where he does his business. Cause if I don't care why would he poop his pants to get back at me?

haha!

I feel like I'm one step ahead of the game...

today.

Summary

I've got a lot to say.

I've got lots of people I need to respond to.

Yes, Lawson, I do remember when I used to post on here.

Mema, the pictures are coming. Soon. I got out of bed a few minutes ago (and yes I was comfortable and ready for sleep... regardless if it is not yet 8 o'clock) because I promised I would try to get Halloween pictures up.

Thank you to all who have congratulated us on the pregnancy.

And I know I sounded a little bit overwhelmed on the post where I told ya'll I was pregnant. I was. I'm better. Today I got to see the little one for the first time. I'll admit, this one's a little funny looking. But I'm sure he/she will grow some hands and feet, and I think the hunchback will disappear.

Here is what we learned from the sonogram:

I am 10 weeks and 1 day pregnant. Ten weeks. Know what that means? It means that I'm 1/4 of the way through with the pregnancy. Sounds too easy doesn't it?

We now have an official due date: June 6, 2010

Baby is 34 mm long from head to rump. (1.33 inches)

Heart was beating. This is good because I've had a sonogram that was as cool as could be, you could see the spine, the brain, lungs, arms, legs, chest, head... but no heartbeat. At that point I didn't know we were looking for a heartbeat so I got to enjoy and be amazed when seeing the little baby.

Heart rate: 170. I asked if it was a boy heart rate or a girl. The tech said that this early both sexes had fast heart rates. We'd have to wait to get a good guess on that one.

So the last few weeks? What's going on you say?

Well...

This baby has been by far the most difficult first trimester. I've been nauseated and exhausted. That's why I haven't made it up here to the computer. The boys have been living off of empty carbs and PBS kids. I've felt like a neglectful mom. The couch has been my friend. As of a few days ago 3/4 of our family wear blue jeans with an elastic waist. Hot cars make me want to vomit so does water. I've lost 3 pounds...of muscle. It was quickly replaced with 2 pounds of fat. I wake up 3 times a night, at least. I can smell feet from three doors down. Last night my kids ate TV dinners for the first time in their life. They liked it. Ty's hair is getting really long. It hasn't been cut since I shaved his head this summer. My front yard hasn't been mowed in 3 or 4 weeks. Mike is gone again to Little Rock, this time it's just a week. We'll see him Sunday.

I'm going to load the pictures now. Just as promised. And then hit the sack. I'm tired and my stomach hurts a little.

We spent Halloween weekend in College Station, TX watching the Aggies beat up on Iowa State.(whoooop!)

Chrissy (my sister) came with us and we hung out with my friend Amanda almost the whole time we were there. Halloween night we all got to spend time at a fun party. We met up there with Shannan and Chris -Chris was our deacon when we went to church at Living Hope. Shannon is in one of the pictures dressed as the cat in the hat. It was a fun weekend. I want to publicly thank Chrissy and Amanda for taking the boys when I wasn't feeling well and for watching them while Mike and I went on a date. You two are incredible servants and I'm so blessed by both of you. You are really two of the most kind and thoughtful people I know.

Now, I'm going to bed.