My poor, sick monkey

My poor little monkey, Jacob, is sick. He has been running a fever, which even got up to 104 degrees. Momma was of course, freaking out... I hate when one of my boys is sick!! :-( I feel so helpless! The pediatrician couldn't squeeze him in, so we went to Urgent Care which was..........NOT URGENT!! It took 4 hours total and the little man slept on me for most of it. His body heat made me sweat like a pig. Attractive, huh? ;-) Hey, I didn't mind, I just wanted him to feel better! That dr. said is was bronchitis, maybe pneumonia. Then, I got news that a child at his preschool had the swine flu. When I got that news (after leaving the urgent care....) I FREAKED OUT!! I got him in today to see his regular pediatrician. Chris took him and the dr. said it was just a plain old viral infection. WHATEVER!! The boy is coughing up a lung like he's been smoking for 50 years! The breathing treatments help, but at this point, it is painful to even listen to him try to sleep (try being the operative word). You know the boy is exhausted when I asked him if he was ready for bed... and he said, "Momma, I don't think we should read stories... I'm super tired!" WTF! That boy usually wants to read at least 10 stories!!! Poor monkey!! So now, we are just waiting for his little body to fight the infection. I am thankful it's nothing THAT serious (flu, etc.) but still upset he isn't feeling well.... On another note, Michael is a TASMANIAN DEVIL!! That boy is fearless and looks for trouble! He is TRULY a monkey and tries to climb on every single thing. Warning- do not turn your back to him or let him out of sight!! :-) Off to sleep.. hopefully none of the other peeps here get sick... xoxo

Life

Totally great picture of Michale and Jacob running around in the grass... LOOK AT MICHAEL'S HAIR!!! LOL!!!!! :-)


Wow. Life is crazy. I love my life... just experiencing many emotions now. My grandmother is passing away.... She has been sick though... so it is not unexpected. It is still very hard though. I went to visit her today, and I am emotionally drained. So many great memories from my childhood. Trips to the Grand Canyon and river rafting.. her tickling my back and my face to fall asleep at night, and singing songs. It was so good to see her, but... it wasn't really 'HER'. I still gazed into her eyes, massaged her hands, and told her I love her. I'm glad I went and will go back tomorrow. The tears just kept streaming out...it makes me realize how precious life is and that one day, I will be laying there. I know... totally a morbid thought. Gosh, I sure do love my boys. They cheered me up tonight. I got to feed them, bathe them, and draw and color with Jacob. I cherish every single moment. They are my everything.

Ahhh... FALL!!

Playing on the porch.....


Michael eating, I mean, EXPLORING with sand.


What I see on a daily basis... PICK ME UP, MOMMA!!


My sweet Jake


Hello there! LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG TIME, NO blog posts!! Yikes!!! What a "bad" little blogger I am! Just kidding... life is just too darn busy lately and I've really had to prioritize my time. Unfortunately, posting has went to the way side. You know the scenario, just feeling pulled in a million and one directions and trying to make my family a priority. Besides trying to take a few minute for myself each night to unwind, relax, and spend time with the hubby, nights are spent having family dinners, enjoying playing in the bath, coloring pictures with Jacob, and reading bedtime stories. It's wonderful. Seriously!! I love my life!!! Jacob is such a sweet boy. He is loving his new preschool and is THRIVING!! They are so kind and I am so thankful that I have a place that I trust takes care of him and teaches not only academic skills, but how to be a good human being. He asked me last night to color a picture with him and of course I said YES! He said, "Momma, you color SO NICELY... how do you do it?" My heart melted. I told him he colored just as nice as me!! He already writes his name (I didn't force him to learn it.. he just loves to write and draw!) Michael is great... CRAZY like a monkey, but wonderful! Babbling and running around, and his little, or shall I say BIG personality is shining through! He has quite the sense of humor and loves his big brother. He idolizes him. He's a good eater and although he's teething and getting his molars, which has caused him a lot of pain, I love him dearly. Michael loves being outdoors and I found him eating sand the other day. So is the life of a toddler... LOL. Chris's birthday is this weekend...21 again. ;-) Just kidding... he said the sweetest thing the other night. I told him I wanted to get him something to make him feel special and let him know how much I love him. He told me, "Rachel, every day is like my birthday. I love my life and you make me feel loved every day." Music to my ears.... :-) I have much gratitude for my life. I am learning every day and cherish every single moment I get. It goes by way too fast... Hope everyone else is just as happy and well. Lots of love.

1 year old!

Michael trying to feed Dada some cake!


Michael in his silly birthday hat!


Opening presents!



Wow. It's hard to believe that Michael is one year old today! Honestly, when I analyze it, it seems like the first 6 months went by slowly... but the last 6 months have zoomed right by. I look at Michael and don't see a "baby" any more. I know EVERYONE says it, but time flies too fast! I think every day of my life, "Cherish each and every moment with them".

This month has been somewhat difficult because I have had to go back to work and work longer hours. I miss my boys. I want to see every milestone. I want to see their funny personalities. I want to be their everything. But I also know, in my heart, that it isn't possible. I try to have gratitude for everything lately. This week, I had the experience of meeting a 5 year old boy, who is in a wheelchair, and can't walk. He is paralyzed from the chest down and although he is cognitively "normal", he has so many physical needs, that it brought tears to my eyes for the appreciation that I have for having such happy, healthy, active boys. I love them so much.
We had a birthday party for Michael last weekend with all the close family members. We had delicious sandwiches, snacks, and yummy cupcakes! It was awesome.

Endings and Beginnings....

My 2 little monkeys in the bath!


Michael "feeding" himself...I wonder how much gets in his TUMMY!!

The end is near....

The end of my month long vacation that is.... I am kind of tired of people saying to me, "Didn't this month fly by? Are you ready for work? Are you "happy" to be going back? Did you have a fun time being off? Must be nice..."

Yeah, I'm pretty sick of sarcastic comments. Oh well. Such is life. By the way, NO, this month didn't fly by. No, I am not ready for work, I'm not REALLY ready to go back, and YES, I had fun!" This month was relaxing, productive, fun, reflective, loving, memory-making, a little bit scary (not in a life threatening way), and one I won't forget. Is anyone ready to go back to work after a month of vacation? I think not... but that's okay. I will take life as it comes. I know this is the next step.

I have made some good, healthy life decisions and have integrated activity into my life. I have been doing yoga, pilates, dance classes, and basically, getting my ass MOVING!! It feels awesome and I love it! Part of me is scared as to how it will all play out when I am doing the full-time mom and work thing, but I know that I can and will make it work. No stress. I am committed to enjoying every moment. I guess I just feel REVIVED. Which is a good thing... I was feeling a little burnt out before. I guess I just have to have faith that everything happens for a reason.

I found a few quotes tonight that really struck a chord with me. I thought I would share.

No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.
P. J. O'Rourke

But suppose God is black? What if we go to Heaven and we, all our lives, have treated the Negro as an inferior, and God is there, and we look up and He is not white? What then is our response?
Robert Kennedy

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.
Mother Teresa

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.
Mother Teresa

Love doesn't make the word go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
Franklin P. Jones

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
Lao Tzu

Hope all is well in your world. All is well in mine. Much love.
xoxo

SUMMER VACATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jake, Drew, and Grandma 'Princess'


Michael doing his latest "trick" when he's done eating... LOL


Hello all!!! I'm on SUMMER VACATION!! Notice from the capital letters that I'm super excited about this!!! :-) :-) :-)

The past week and a half I have to admit.........I've been quite selfish. My days have been consumed by not much... let's see... going to the gym (which I've been trying to all these different types of classes.. pilates, zumba dance, hip hop, etc), nail appts, hair appts, cleaning, and well, spending time with my precious monkeys!!! Let's just say it's been........wonderful!! I feel a little guilty since Chris is still at work....but I have enjoyed the time to myself. It feels weird to be a little "selfish" and take time for myself. It's funny... pre-kids, I would have been napping the time away, but not now. I have taken a few naps here and there, but NOTHING like I would have before. I am enjoying going to the gym, working out, eating well, and picking the boys up early. I have been spoiling Jacob with slurpee trips, ice cream, and just plain-old mommy time. I love it. Gosh... wouldn't it be great to earn this paycheck and be able to stay home! Yeah right... I don't see that coming any time soon.

Michael is taking his first steps... walking!! I can't believe how fast the time flies by. I will post a video soon (as soon as we get another camera that takes video!!) Michael was so excited by the fireworks on the 4th of July, that he threw the camera down and broke it. :-( The screen is obliterated and we are in the process of getting a new one. This was the first 4th of July that Jake actually was 'IN' to it. It was great. We swam the whole day, visited with family, and enjoyed fireworks once it got dark. Gosh, I never would have imagined that a day/night like that would bring so much joy. Before kids, it was filled with WAY too much drinking and partying.... not that I remember all of it. Yikes. Better times now.....thank God. These boys are amazing to me. I cherish every single minute with them. They make me a better person and I truly feel like my heart is walking around on the outside of my body. It is wonderful, yet painful (in a good way, of course).

Jacob is moving rooms in his preschool.... to the "Big Boy" room and he is so excited, yet momma is so nervous for him. It tears my heart out to leave him every day.... gosh, it really changes my perspective on life, my job, and all those kids that I am "charge" of every day. This tiny, tiny part of me wishes I could have another child, but I know that isn't happening... I just look at these joyful human beings and how I have created them and it's bittersweet. They are so much work, bring me so much joy... but I just don't think I could do another child justice with working full-time....as you can see, I still struggle with these thoughts....Overall, I feel happiness though... I thank God for my blessings.

Hope all is well with everybody else.
xoxo

Oh, how the time flies...

Michael "pretending" to help us empty the dishwasher... LOL


Life has been busy, as can be expected.. I am working "summer hours" right now, which means 5:30 am till about 12:3o pm... not such a bad gig considering I get off from work so early... here's the thing though... I HATE MORNINGs!! In order for me to get out the door, I have to set the alarm for 4:20 am.... yes, that, my friends, is still considered the middle of the night (for me). My goal is to SNEAK out the door before the monkeys wake up.... which really is a double edged sword

. I mean, if I'm able to get ready and sneak out before they wake up, then I don't get to see them, which totally sucks. However, if they do wake up (which I don't mind), then it adds 20 - 30 minutes on... How can I possibly leave when Jake is begging me to cuddle? Hey, priorities now!! :-)

Chris has been incredible. He hasn't complained once about having to get both of those boys ready, dropping them both off, and dealing with the chaos. He is so calm about the whole thing (me, I would be totally stressing..)

Okay, so 2 more days of work, then, I'm OFF FOR A WHOLE MONTH!!! WOO HOO!! (Can you sense my excitement??!)

Update on the boys: Michael is crazy...but in a good way...babbling NONSTOP, cruising around, and into everything! The boy is going to walk soon! He is mesmerized by his brother and wants all of his toys. This however, has created a problem, because Jake is now VERY territorial and doesn't want Michael touching a toy. Needless to say, the time-out chair has been utilized (and it's not pretty).

Jake has a cough and is wheezing. The dr. has told us to give "breathing treatments" every 4 hours, which he just loves (yeah right) and we keep monitoring his cough and wheezing. I absolutely hate hearing him wheeze.... it breaks my heart. They think it is probabloy aggrivated by his "illness" but I still want it to go away! It tears my heart out!! :-(

Chris and I went out on a date tonight and we had a blast. I love, love. love spending time with him. Even though we were both tired, it was so good to be together, just us. All right, off to bed.... gotta wake up soon. xoxo