I'm Blessed

I'm joining Gretchen over at He Sows and She Sews and sharing my blessings.

Last week was EXHAUSTING!

It started out wonderful. Monday was a very exciting day for us. The boys took a super long nap which helped Mama get a lot of laundry done. That's a blessing right there! Laundry done...FINALLY.

Monday night began the stroll downhill. No big deal. M woke up in the middle of the night and I got to snuggle him. I only 'had' to snuggle him for just a minute, but I decided to enjoy the blessing and took him over to the chair in the corner of the room and sat with him for about 20 minutes. There was no reason to continue to hold him, except that I wanted to. I am so thankful for those two boys. After laying him down, I went over to G's crib and I stroked his head for a minute and just smiled thinking about how blessed I am to be given these two precious babes.

Tuesday M woke up so congested, coughing, and what I thought to be wheezing. Wheezing is normal for them when they get sick. We were around a cousin the other week that found out he had pneumonia and I just wanted to make sure the doc didn't think it was necessary for us to come in and that I could just use M's inhaler and see if he started to get better. I am so blessed to have a pediatrician that will take a message and call me back immediately. A pediatrician that will talk to me on the phone for over 10 minutes so that I don't have to go into the office. The doctor said that is sounds like M has croup. He said I didn't need to bring him, didn't need to give him the inhaler, and to put him in a steamy bathroom if he starts to cough uncontrollably. He said M should be able to kick it on his own. That night we gave the boys a super steamy bath, hoping that it would clear them both up nicely before bed. As we watched them play in the bath they both had the biggest buddha bellies and their ribs were so prominent. We knew they were laboring to breath. So we gave them their inhalers before bed. We knew it wouldn't hurt the croup and that it could help with the laboring.

Tuesday night was miserable. When I finally got the boys to sleep I sat down and OH NO! with out any warning was just as sick as them. I am so blessed that this is miserable, I can imagine worse, and so blessed that it wasn't worse. Both boys woke up a bunch through out the night. Mama gave some snuggles and they slept for another 2-3 hours or so. They woke up once more got a few more snuggles and then woke up 5 hours later. Then woke up for good at 7:30. That is so early for them.

Wednesday morning I decided to take them for an early trip to the doctors. M was having such a hard time breathing and I knew G wasn't too far behind. I am so blessed that when I called my doctor first thing in the morning they had no problem seeing me.

It had flooded a bunch around here Wednesday morning and I had to go all these back roads. Another blessing. I found my way there, having no idea where I was.

The doctor we were scheduled to see was doing rounds at the hospital that morning and was going to be super late. She had to get around flooding herself. After waiting for about 30 minutes the boys were done. M was limp as a rag doll laying on me and G sitting in the stroller alone and seemed to be jealous. Of course he didn't understand that Mommy was snuggling M because he was sick and not because she likes him more. Just then a different doctor came in and said that he would be happy to see them if I would like. Another blessing... right when I was ready to cry because I was alone and felt so guilty.

The doc listend to M's chest and after 2 seconds he said, I have no idea what I am hearing. Let's give him a treatment right away. M HATED the nebulizer. He thinks it is torture. The nurse came in and set up the nebulizer. Both the doctor and the nurse leave, leaving the mother to give the treatment to their child. I was fighting M while he was crying and struggling and G was again sitting in the stroller watching. This time he had fear all over his face. He was watching his mommy torture his brother. Cause pain on his brother. The fear in his eyes made me break down and I started bawling. I am so blessed that I feel such a strong connection to my boys. So blessed that right as I pulled myself together and told myself and G that I am not hurting M I am helping 3 of the office managers opened the door and started to play peek a boo with G. This was a VERY long 10 minutes.

After the doctor listened to M again he said, "he has everything". Excuse me what is everything. He said there are rules and none of the rules are being followed right now. He has croup, he has what sounds to be some liquid in the lungs, and his chest is very congested. He gave us scripts for antibiotics, steroids, and inhaler. He said not to start the steroids unless he gets worse and to call first. Then he listened to G. He said G isn't far behind, but I think he will be able to push through without antibiotics.

The boys and I made our way back to the car and then straight to the drive through at the pharmacy. After giving our scripts we sat in the parking lot for 30 minutes. I am so blessed that even though G wanted to go play he sat quietly while M napped.

I am so blessed to have an understanding loving husband. Hubs came home early on Wednesday to help out. G went down for a nap and M only slept for about 15 minutes. I am so blessed that G slept for 3 hours. He woke up right as daddy was walking in the door. M snuggled mama for those 3 hours. We laid on the couch and watched Fresh Beat Band. When Hubs walked in he took M and said I wasn't allowed to hold him anymore. Both M and I had a fever and hubs said he felt M's fever go way down in 5 minutes since we were against each other. I am blessed that hubs got home so I could go and spend some quality time with G.

Wednesday was a long night. M woke up and I needed to take him into the steamy shower. However, our hot water wasn't working. Hubs got up to go try to restart the pilot light on the furnace and found 3 feet of water in the basement, AGAIN! The new sump pump we got decided that after the first time it worked it wasn't going to work again.

Blessed again that Thursday hubs stayed home to take care of us, the water, and the furnace. After some family snuggles the furnace guy and some more tv we were all starting to feel a little better.

Hubs went back to work on Friday and the boys and I began to feel so much better. They even started to play a little.

It's been hard to shut the tv off again. I don't normally ever have the tv on when they are awake. This last week was just a special week with them being so sick. Since our huge beautiful tv fried the weekend before I am blessed that we only had a 24" tv instead of a 52" tv. It made me more comfortable with leaving it on all week.

Even though we had a long, hard, exhausting week the blessings just kept popping up. I am so thankful for that!

How were you blessed during the week?

I'm Blessed

It's been a few weeks since I've joined Gretchen's I'm Blessed party over at He Sows, She Sews. Pop over there and join in with sharing your blessings.

There are so many blessings in my life. A lot of the time I don't even notice them. I'm sure you can relate to that. Sometimes I am so frustrated with something that the blessing with in it is hard for me to see.

Lately I have been so frustrated about having no hot water. Of course! Who wouldn't be?! Washing dishes in cold water (we couldn't boil water and fill the sink because the drain in our sink was broken), taking cold showers, boiling water to wash our faces.

As I have driven around town and further, I see houses that are still vacant from flooding.

As annoyed as I am that about 3 weeks later I still have no hot water and there is water still trickling in the basement I am so blessed that's all that happened.

Our house is still standing. Our house hasn't had to be vacated. Our belongings (except furnace) are in perfect condition.

Most importantly our house has loving happy people in it, and for that I am blessed.

OH and I am blessed that hubs finally was able to fix the sink yesterday! Ten minutes after he fixed it I filled it with boiling water and evened it out with some cold so I could take a "shower". It was SO much nicer than carrying 6 boiling pots up and down the stairs.

I'm Blessed

I'm so sorry that I missed Gretchen's I'm Blessed party yesterday over at He Sows, She Sews. I decided I would post a day late. Why not right :)

I'm blessed!

Yesterday was hubs and my 7th wedding anniversary. 7 years!! I can't believe how time flies. I am truly blessed to be married to such a wonderful man!

My dad came to visit us for the last almost 2 weeks. It was a little bit of a surprise visit and the length of the visit was even more of a surprise. BUT what a wonderful surprise BLESSING it was to have him here. The babes love him SO much.

I was blessed this last week to watch the babes run out after every nap/sleep time to see where their Papa was and squeal in delight.

I am blessed to have such handy men in my life. Hubs and my dad built a corral for the babes in the front yard. Now I don't have to be terrified out there and I can even attempt to bring them out on my own.

I am blessed to have such understanding men in my life. After a day of having my cage out front I asked hubs if he could move it to the back yard. The back is a bit flatter than the front. He hasn't done it yet, but I know he will once he gets a chance :)

Hope you were able to take some time yesterday and think about all of your blessings.

I'm Blessed

It's Monday so I'm joining Gretchen over at He Sows, She Sews blessed party where bloggers share their blessings. Click on over and read others blessings and share some of your own.

I'm showing my blessings in pictures this week.

I am so blessed to have a family that loves to do things together.

On Saturday we went to a small zoo. We got to touch sheep, see a huge cow and pig, walk through a bird house, watch pony rides, and eat lunch on a huge playground.

We started by walking through the mini farm. We stopped to look at the sheep. The boys loved to put their hands through the fence and touch them.

As we were leaving the farm area the sheep worker showed up and was allowing kid into the pen. We decided that we would take the boys in and see what they would do.

The boys were squealing in delight in the sheep pen. They were following the sheep from one end to the other, the whole time saying BAA BAA BA.

Hubs and I kept a hand on them the entire time. We didn't want them to be rough with the sheep and we didn't want the sheep to get frustrated with the babes going BAA BAA BA and ram them.

Of course there was no ramming or rough housing :)

After visiting the farm area of the zoo we watched one of our friends kids take a pony ride. Instead of watching the rest of the bigger kids take a pony ride hubs and I decided to take the boys into the bird house. The babes LOVE birds. Whenever we are outside they notice birds that I would never notice without them pointing them out. They love to stand on the couch and spot birds from the window. We thought this part of the zoo would be perfect for them. It was awesome! We walked into basically a huge cage. The birds were flying around us. Sitting on food sticks that you could purchase and of course making the most perfect tweet tweet sound.

The boys were SO tired. They missed their morning nap so we could visit the zoo. They were excited to walk through the bird house but had a hard time keeping their eyes open.

After visiting the birds we went to the 'park' where we had a picnic and played in the zoo's play area.

The babes were pretending to be Mama's worst nightmare. Eek!

Mama wouldn't go near the play spider. YUCK!

The family pretended to be a family of birds.

Tweet tweet.

The baby birds just hatched :)

I love this grouping of pictures.

G is so happy to be sitting in the egg. M on the other hand wants out!

M trying to get around his bro.

M beginning to get vocal about his dislike of sitting in the egg.

M decided he had enough and is going to take matters into his own hands.

M climbed right over G. He had NO desire to be in that egg any more.

After lunch and some play we decided to take the boys home. They had a great time but were so tired.

After we got them home we put them down for a nap. When they woke up we decided to take them into the pool.

If you have read my blog at all this summer, you know by now that I HATE cold water. Cold water is anything that doesn't feel like bath water. Oh and when I get out of the bath or shower my skin is bright red. Yup, I'm one of those...

However, we were having such a great time being together. I couldn't just sit there and watch this time, I HAD to be involved.

Thank you Lord for my many blessings. Thank you especially for my loving FUN family!

I'm Blessed!

Happy Fourth of July!

I'm joining Gretchen's Blessed Party once again over at He Sows, She Sews where people share how they have been blessed this week.

Today I can't help but think about ALL of our soldiers. Soldiers that are currently fighting, soldiers that are retired, and soldiers that have fallen. These great men and women have helped us become a free nation and I am so proud of them!

Most of all I am so thankful for my brother, who served 4 years in the Marines. During his career he was 1st recon battalion and had 2 deployments, one to Afghanistan and one to Iraq. He was a communications expert and the only machine gun operator in his 6 man team. When he got out he was a Sgt.

So THANK YOU to all of the soldiers! -- most of all to my FAVORITE one! :)

I'm Blessed!

Once again I am joining the I'm Blessed party with Gretchen over at He Sows, She Sews. If you are blessed, which I know you are, come join me there :)

This may not sound profound or deep BUT I'm Blessed! Today is the start of my Stay at Home Mom career! I am so thrilled that Jon and I have made this decision. Now I get to stay home with these loves and watch them do a lot more of this.

Well I want to start strong, so I'm logging off and going to do a few THOUSAND loads of laundry to catch up from the whirl wind last few weeks I've had :)

I'm Blessed

I am so excited to be joining Gretchen's Blessed Blog Party today. You can find out reasons why she is blessed along with many other peoples blessings by visiting her blog at He Sows, She Sews. You can even join me and the others by linking up to her Blessed Party and share your blessings.

I AM BLESSED! There are so many reasons I am blessed. I could go on and on today. I am going to pick just one to share.

God has blessed me with the most amazing husband one could ask for! I know others of you are saying, no sorry, mine is the most amazing :) and I am sure he is great for you!

Sadly Saturday night my Grandmother passed away. I will share about her amazing life and what she has meant to me soon!

Sunday, being Father's Day, dear old hubs was suppose to be spoiled. This was not the case this year. Hubs spoiled his wife yesterday. He woke up early, helped feed the boys, changed diapers, and helped put them down for their morning nap. My aunt who came in for the death of her mother stayed with us over night. She had to run some errand in the morning and I offered to go with her (leaving hubs alone on his 'special' day).

When I got home I walked into a spotless, clean home. He spent his whole morning cleaning (and I mean cleaning) the house. He did this for me! He did this because he knows this is my last week at work and I have report cards, close out documents, etc. He did this because he knows I am grieving and would rather lay on the couch with him if I did get a chance to have a free moment. He did this because he knows I have been sick for a week and haven't been able to 'rest'. He did this for ME, because he LOVES ME!

The only way he can love me this much is because he loves his Heavenly Father! I am so in love with my Godly husband.

I am so BLESSED to be his wife!

Thank you Lord for sending him my way! Thank you for carving him into the man/father that he is today, the man/father that he is continuing to become.