Dear Colin (2 Years old)

Dear Colin,

   Today you turn 2. I can't believe how fast the last two years have gone. I have enjoyed watching you grow  from a baby to a toddler.
  You are talking so much now. In the car you tell us "this way" and point in whatever direction you want us to go. You have insisted that you want trees for your birthday. You know that you are two years old but like to tell people three. Just this past week you have learned my name is Shannon and your dad's name is Chris. You have taken to calling me "Shannon" during the day. You think it is funny when I respond.
   Two nights ago you moved to a big boy bed. The first night we put the mattress on the floor and you slept on that. Last night we actually took your crib apart and put together the full size bed for you to sleep on. You thought it was awesome and after playing on it for about 15 minutes you went to sleep.
    You love trains, trucks, cars, airplanes, or really anything with wheels that you can push around. On Saturday you are going to have a train party.
     Tonight you will get to eat pancakes, sausage, and cupcakes with your sister, mom, dad, grandma and grandpa and Jenni. While there are other people that play an important role in your life I feel very blessed to have these people come to celebrate with you on your actual birthday.
    You now weigh 31 pounds and are a little over 3 feet tall. On more than one occasion we have been asked if you and your sister are twins.
     You are full of mischief and try to get away with doing things you aren't supposed to by giving a big smile.

   You have been healthy for most of the month of November and I am hoping that December will bring the same.

  Colin you are a blessing to our family and we love you very much. You have so many people that have prayed for you and ask about you on a daily basis.
  I look forward to seeing what the next year holds in store for you.

Happy Birthday Big Boy.

Love,



Mommy

Ear Pericing

We took Alyssa to get her ears pierced tonight. She has been asking for it for MONTHS and so we told her when she stayed dry all night we would do it. Well tonight was the night. She was super excited until the lady put the gun to her ear. Then she freaked out.
We couldn't convince her otherwise, so we left with me buying the whole ear piercing package because the ear rings had already been opened. I'm pissed that I didn't just have the lady pierce my ear since I had to buy the stuff anyway, but didn't think about it until half way home.
She threw a fit the whole way home and is still throwing one in her room now because she is mad she didn't get them pierced. 

How long do I make her wait until we try again? My initial response is until she is 10 but another part of me thinks when she asks again. I guess time will tell. I know she still really wants it done so hopefully she will agree to do it again soon. 

Big Boy Bed

Tonight is Colin's first night in his big boy bed. We haven't put together the full bed yet, so tonight he just is sleeping on the mattress on the floor but he was excited and went to sleep almost easier than in his crib.
We told him good night he ran, climbed on it, laid down and stayed there until he went to sleep.

We will see what the night and tomorrow night brings, but I'm hoping this might be easier than when we moved Alyssa to a bed.

4 Days

This post is titled 4 days and it is going to go in two different directions.

4 days off. That is what we had. Besides my trip out to black Friday shop in Thursday night our family has always been together.  All other shopping, playing, whatever was done as a family of 4 and it was awesome. I'm not sure how 4 weekend days can go so fast when four week days can go so slow.
For Friday morning the kids played mostly by themselves while Chris and I arranged things, ordered Christmas cards and did other odds and ends. Every so often we would stop and just listen to the kids laughing and playing together.
We still had our occasional melt down and time where I was super frustrated with the kids but for the most part they are really really good kids.
I am sad that it is Sunday night and tomorrow things return to the normal grind. One bright spot is that in 5 weeks we once again get a 4 day weekend.

Part 2- 4 Days

In 4 days my baby turns 2! I am having a hard time with it all. The fact that I know he is my last makes it even more bittersweet. I know that another isn't right for our family and I am truly okay with that. I get my baby snuggles at work and then send them home. I look forward to him getting older so that we can enjoy vacations and other things. But in the same breath I don't want him to grow up. His personality is so charming and I love his way of being, I will write more about his milestones in his letter to him on his birthday.
I just can't believe that 2 years ago today I looked like this:

and was wondering what the baby inside me was like.

Zoo Lights

Last night we bundled up and headed off to see the zoo lights. Of course the high temperature yesterday was 37. We layered the kids and ourselves.

We stopped at got some dinner first and then got to the zoo about an hour after they opened. I think this worked out better than past years of getting there right as the opened. The crowds had thinned out a little. Both Colin and Alyssa were amazed at the lights. They kept pointing at the lights with big smiles on their faces.

It was so cold, but I bought a deal so that we could get some hot chocolates. So while walking around looking at lights the adults got to enjoy hot chocolate. The kids had a blast and ran ahead looking at all the lights. We walked through some parts two or three times just enjoying it. We also got to see the penguins and some swans.



It was a fun night had by all and we will look forward to doing it all again next year.

Thanksgiving

We hosted Thanksgiving yesterday for 18 people. It started by us cleaning the house Wednesday night. Then Thursday morning about 8:30 I started cooking and getting things set up and ready. People started showing up about 12:45 and we ate right about 2. After we ate, we took a break and sat outside drinking and watching the kids play in the yard. By 5:30 everyone was gone and by 6:30 everything was cleaned up and put back in place.

It was a great Thanksgiving, the food was awesome like always and the company was very enjoyable.

Last night I then braved my first Black Friday sales. I hit up Wal-Mart and Target. I was able to get some good deals at both places. I then came home and wrapped presents until I ran out of Christmas paper.

Today I got our Christmas cards ordered, almost all the rest of the presents bought, wrapped, and got to enjoy time with my family.

I am looking forward to two more days of family time.

#21

Thankful for being healthy and able enough to host Thanksgiving tomorrow for 18 people.

#20

I am so very very grateful for God and all he has done in and through me. I know that without him my life would be nothing. He has given me so much more than I could ever have hoped for in a family and in my life.
I have gone through dark times and have tried to push him out, but as I look back on those, the harder I pushed him out the harder my life became.

I feel that God has played a huge role on my life for the last 3 years. I am grateful that I have taken the time to listen to him. I'm not perfect and I know I really do need to listen closer and more often. It is something I can work on, but for now I am grateful for him and all he has done in my life.

#18 and 19

My grateful posts today are superficial but they are still things that make a difference in my life.

18. I am thankful for early bed times. My kids are in their room by 7:45 each night and asleep shortly after. It gives me time in the evening for myself, for the gym, for reading, or whatever else I want/need to do. It is nice to have some time for myself

19. I am grateful for a short week. Monday has been trying and I'm glad there are only two more days this week.  

#17

I am thankful we have found people that we trust to leave our kids with so that we can have a date night. For a long time we only left the kids with Chris' parents which was okay but we didn't ask them very often. Our church now offers once a month a Parents night out. For a small amount of money we get to drop our kids off at church for a few hours. Out of 12 months we use about 6-8 but it is nice to know the kids are well taken care of and safe and we can enjoy a dinner by ourselves or with friends.

#16

Tonight I'm grateful for snuggles. Tonight we went out to see them light the town's Christmas tree, we then came home, got PJ's on and snuggled while watching a movie. I held Colin until he was almost asleep (I think he would have gone to sleep if Alyssa hadn't come to join us.) Then I got to snuggle with Alyssa and Colin went to snuggle with Chris. It was definitively the highlight of my day.  

#15

Today I'm thankful that I have the ability to work out from home when it just seems so dark and cold to go to the gym. It makes it a lot easier to flop on the couch when you are done. The harder part is then getting upstairs to shower and go to bed.

#14

I am grateful today for caffeine and its ability to keep me moving on days where I just don't think I can. Today was a soda day. I think one more might be in store to get me through the night. 

#13

I am grateful for the modern convinces that we have today. I couldn't live without my cell phone. It is my all. I call/ text/ play games/ check social media on it all day. It is my phone book, my calendar, my watch, my phone book, my weather checker and so much more. I also use my computer, TV and microwave daily. I might not have the top of the market anything but I do enjoy my convinces that I have.

#12

I am thankful for our church and the role it has played in our life. 4 years ago we were not faithful in our going to church. About 2 and a half years ago I knew I needed a change and one of the changes I made was to start attending church.
From the first service that we went to I knew I was "home". It only took a few months before we became member of the church. We are now well known and have our "spot" in church. Last Sunday we were in a new Sunday School group and one lady told another "this is the mom of the little boy who cries at the end of children's time every Sunday". She is right Colin knows after children's time he goes to the nursery so as the Pastor gathers the kids for prayer he starts to cry.
I love the church and now it will be the home to my new daycare so I don't see us moving any time soon.

#9, 10 and 11

#9 I am thankful for extended family and friends. This weekend we traveled down to visit my grandpa, uncle and Aunt and their two boys. I hadn't seen them in over a year and after an hour of catch up we fell into a wonderful conversation that made the next few hours fly by. It is so nice to have family that can do that with. I really wish I lived closer to my family but it does make it awesome when I can see them.

#10 I am thankful for the material things that I have that make my life just a little easier. A roof over my head, two cars that run, toys and furniture that make my life so much easier.

#11 I am thankful for all our veterans that have fought/are fighting for the freedom we have in America. Both my Grandfather's were in a war, and while I have not experienced it first hand of having someone close to me in war, I do know and have enough friends with loved ones fighting over seas. I am grateful for the sacrifice they have made so that I can have the life that I have.

Day #8

Today was a hard day to think of something grateful, I was/am tired and worn out from the week, but really in all that comes my thankful idea. I am thankful I have a job and a business that is booming. This week has been busier than usual and while I could take that and list out all the things that have made this week hard, instead I'm going to turn it around and think at least I have a job. At least I have a business that even when things are running perfectly they are still running smooth enough that the clients are happy and job still has more good than bad moments.

Thankful Day #7

Today I am Thankful for the awesome doctors and hospitals that we have access to in the St. Louis area. Colin has 2 specialist that he sees on a fairly regular basis. They are both based out of St. Louis Children's Hospital. He has also seen two other specialist there and had 3 hospital stays there.
Each time I am impressed with the nurses and doctors. They all take time to listen to you and try to come up with solutions that are best for the kid.
I hope some day in the near future I won't see the specialist or nurses on the 7th and 8th floor of the hospital but I will always be grateful for what they have done for Colin and our family.

#6 Thankful

Today I'm thankful for my employee/assistant/ soon to be business owner Jenni. She is an awesome person and a great friend.
She came into my life taking a risk just like I was and I think we will both see have already benefited greatly from each other with only more opportunities at our footsteps.

She has taken over without a single complaint or issue when Colin has been in the hospital. She puts a smile on and does whatever is needed to keep the daycare running smoothly.

On days when she is gone from the daycare it shows, and the kids and I miss her dearly.

I am so lucky that our lives crossed and I'm excited to see how the future unfolds on our new business adventure.

Day 5 Thankful

Today I am thankful for my former boss who decided teaching was not what I was supposed to be doing. That one decision changed not only my career path but my whole life for the better.
I am now doing the job that I love, I get to be home with my kids, and I have bigger growing opportunities than I would have ever had teaching.
This is a job path that I thought would never be attainable, yet here I am attaining the dream I have had along with more happiness than I have ever known.

DayCare updates

Last week I met with the State Plumbing inspector. He loved the church except for the kitchen. This week I meet with the Local Health Department, so we will see how that goes.
I have also met with a few people for quotes on fences, I need to make a few more calls tomorrow.
My list of people to call tomorrow keeps growing.
To get this daycare up and running is going to take a lot of man hours, phone calls and hard work, but I'm excited to take each step even if the stress level keeps going up.

Colin

Colin is doing much better. Today he only coughed a few times and his mood seems to be improving. I am writing this down in my blog not only as a reminder for his book, but to help me remember when he started to feel better.
I am going to document the winter so that when we go back to the doctor I can have a good idea of how many days he was well and how many he was sick. Also it will help me keep track of the medicines he was on and how that made him feel. So it took until day 10 of the orapred for him to feel better (though nose is still running) and day 5 of the steroids.
Tomorrow will be his first day off steroids and a new batch of the orapred. Lets see how long he can stay healthy.

Thankful #3 and 4

I missed yesterday because I was out of town. I guess I could have blogged from my phone, but that is harder to do.

So #3 that I'm thankful for is my in-laws. There are not many people that can say that they get along with their mother in law. I am very lucky that I get along with all of my husbands family. When Chris and I got married we knew that we wanted our kids to know their aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. We knew the best way to do that was move close to his family. While I miss mine like crazy it is so nice to have my in laws to help. I just spent the whole weekend away with most of the women in Chris' family and it was a blast.
It is also nice to have the grandparents willing to take care of our kids when Chris and I need a night out. They have no issue coming up to our house to go out for dinner, or to help me with the daycare or the million and one other things we bug them for.




#4 I am thankful for my family. It is unfortunate that in order to be close to Chris's family we have to be far away from mine. What is nice is that they are only a phone call away. I talk to my mom, dad and brother usually once to a few times a week. Sometimes the phone calls are brief and sometimes they are long but no matter what I know they are there. My kids still know their Grandma and Papa, their Grandpa and Nana and their Michael Michael. We talk about them often and Alyssa knows where they live and get excited for their visits. Though my family isn't close enough to see me on a weekly basis, they are always there when I need them.

Thankful Day #2

Today I am thankful for my kids. They are truly my biggest stress but also my biggest blessing.

I love watching them grow and learn each day.

With Alyssa I am loving watching her personality and brain just pop. She is forming friendships and her imagination is amazing. She is a bright little girl. She is stubborn and when she gets an idea in her head she wants to accomplish it no matter if it can really be done or not, but at least she is trying.

Colin has caused me more sleepless nights than Alyssa and he started sleeping through the night at 4 months old. His health issues have kept me on my toes for the last two years but I wouldn't trade him for all the money in the world. He has taught me more about standing up for what I believe is right and how to question. Thanks to Colin there have been challenges and changes in my life that I would have never expected but they have all been for the best.
Colin is also very smart. His words are coming more and more each day. When he feels good and is in a good mood his is the best little boy to be around. He can light up the whole room with his smile and laugh.

My kids have been one of the best gifts God has ever given me.

Thankful

Photo taken by JB photography

It is November, so that means it is time to take notice of all the things I'm thankful for. I am also trying to keep my blogging spirit alive so each day in November I'm going to try to blog about something I'm thankful/grateful for.

Today I am thankful for my husband. He is a wonderful husband and an amazing father to our kids. I have said it many times before, but I would not be where I am today without him.
He has been by my side in the best and in the worst times. He has loved me when I didn't even truly love myself. I know it is cliche but I really can't imagine my life without him. (And I really don't want to.)

Up all Night

Yesterday morning Colin started coughing. For nap all he did was lay in his bed and cough. So by the time we put him to bed last night he was tired and coughing even more even after a few breathing treatments.
At 9:15 he woke up crying and so we gave him some more albuterol. As soon as we gave it to him his breathing got really short and shallow and he was panting and grunting.
I called the after hours line. Thank God they called back quick cause if they didn't I probably would have ended up calling 911.
The lady listened to Colin's breathing, calmed me down and then we started to go through Colin's history. Finally we decided that we were going to do 3 more treatments back to back and she would call back in an hour.
So Colin and I came downstairs and watched some TV and he bounced back and forth between Chris and I until the lady called back. She didn't like that he was still coughing so much so she decided that we needed to give steroids to help open his airway.
  After giving him the steroids I tried to put him back to bed. Within 10 minutes of laying down in bed he was coughing again. So back downstairs we came, where he and I slept in the rocking chair. It was not a good night for either one of us. Every time he tried to rest his head too low he would start coughing. He is also very long and it is hard for both of us to curl up in the chair.

This morning I called the doctor and he wanted to give the steroids 24 hours to work, and for us to keep doing breathing treatments. So that is what we did all day.

For nap we kept him downstairs and elevated a cot so that he could sleep in a more upright position and it worked pretty well, he got a good nap in, but not long enough.
All afternoon he was very cranky and threw one fit after another.

Tonight we tried his crib at first but he woke up coughing within the first 45 minutes, so I took a cot upstairs and elevated it. I'm hoping this helps him sleep better tonight.

Tomorrow I'm going to call his doctor with an update and I'm also going to call his pulmonologist and let him know what is going on.

I am supposed to be going out of town tomorrow and I hope that Colin is well enough that I'm comfortable leaving him.