Updates

How's it going? Well, let's see...

Eating Out of the Pantry Challenge: It's been...well, challenging. But, it feels really good to be saving so much money and to be eating what we already have.

At the beginning of the challenge, I thought we'd make it maybe 2 weeks before having to do some serious grocery shopping, but I was so wrong! In fact, now we're almost at the end of 4 weeks and I bet I still have enough food to last us another month! I had no clue we had so much food on-hand!

For me, one aspect that has been hard in this challenge is a bit on the mental side. Watching the pantry and fridge empty makes me feel like we're running out of food and makes me want to run to the store. But I know that a lot of this food we're using up would just sit and sit and eventually have to be thrown away because I'd either put off using it because I'd be buying different flavors that we use more often or staples for my "usual" recipes. Instead, I'm using items I don't typically use...and we're enjoying the adventure!

The other challenging part has been eating all my ready-made boxed dinners. I had more than I knew! First, I just enjoy cooking from scratch, so boxed dinners just aren't as fun. But also, I like having some on hand "just in case". Obviously I've had these dinners for a loooong time, so there hasn't been a "just in case" yet, so I'm not sure what I've been expecting, but again, it's just mental comfort. I'll keep a few for the future, but we're trying to eat through the majority of them now.

Pink Eye: Brahm's eye is much better today! I faithfully applied his drops yesterday, gave him some benadryl last night and he woke up with no ooze, no swelling, just a little redness!

Thankfully, no one else has shown signs of getting pink eye. So I'm praying we'll be out of the woods soon!

Weekend Plans: Snow storm! Pink eye! Runny noses! This is Ryan and I's anniversary weekend, so we were hoping to go on a date...but it looks like it'll be delayed until the weather and the wellness of our children change their status!

It's a good thing we love being with our kids!!! Still, the kids know that mommy and daddy sometimes need time to ourselves so that we can continue being a good mommy and daddy.

After all, we believe that the best thing we can give our children, is peace of mind that mommy and daddy love each other more than anyone else in the world!

Pink Is NOT My Favorite Color...

At least, it isn't today.

Growing up as a tomboy, Pink and I have always had a love/hate relationship. But over the years, I've come to love it more and more.

And on most days, (now that I have a girl!) it's one my favorite colors...

but DEFINITELY not today.

In fact, today, if pink were an object, I'd probably throw it off a cliff or flush it down the toilet.

Why?

Because it is in my son's eye.





And you know what? I think it's FEBRUARY'S FAULT!!!

(But even still, in honor of February being "love month" I'll be posting once a week some of my favorite things, so be sure to check back for those!)

Trip to the ER...

On Monday, Boo was playing with a plastic tent pole from a play tent the boys have, and he fell with the tent pole in his mouth!

I heard choking and so I ran to the kitchen, but Ryan had heard it too and was already there at his side. At first we didn't know what had happened. Boo was holding the tent pole while coughing gaging and then we the noticed blood filling his mouth. He was crying so hard and just kept saying over and over "it hurts!".

We got him calm enough to get a flashlight and look in his mouth and what we saw was horrible. There was a deep gash on the roof of his mouth, towards the back and another bleeding sore on the far back of his throat.

We figured that it must have jabbed him in the roof of his mouth and when that flesh gave way, it slide back and hit his throat.

So Ryan took him to the ER (where I later joined him) and after doing an X-ray we were pleased to hear there was no bone damage. But there was a serious laceration on the roof of his mouth and minor bruising and scrapes on his tonsil.

The doctor said if it would have been even an inch over on the roof of the mouth, it would have probably gone straight up through his nasal cavity.

Boo did great in the ER...even when they had to stick stuff down his throat he never cried!

After checking him a few times the doctor said they wouldn't do surgery yet because of the risk of infection and the difficult place the laceration was in. They wanted to see if it would heal on it's own...and it has!!!

The first night was the most difficult by far. None of us slept much. He was in so much pain that even in his sleep he was saying "hurt, hurt". It was very sad.

Now, Boo's talking normal again, using his tongue and even drinking out of his normal cups again! But he has been on soft foods (jello, mashed potatoes, applesauce) for almost 5 days and will be on them for at least another 5. He misses pretzels and crackers..but he's hanging in there!

Because of the depth of the gash, it's healing slowly, but it is healing!!! We are just SO thankful that surgery was not needed!

He's a trooper...I don't know, if I were in his shoes, if I'd be quite as cheerful as he's been through all this!

(I think he enjoyed being able to watch cable cartoons!!!)

The Flu Bug Should Migrate South for the Summer

Here we are in the middle of summer and my Boo caught the flu.

He was up most of the night throwing up and/or moaning in discomfort.

Now, I'm the type of mom that can't just watch my kid throw up. I have to swoop them up and hold them close to me. I don't know why, it's just an instinct...probably something I picked up from my mom.

In my walk of motherhood, it's nights like last night that I feel fulfilled as a mom. Yes, it's hard and sad and messy, but it is always a sweet time between the sick child and me. I get to hold them and sing and pray and quote scripture over them while they lay in arms trusting with me that God is near. My husband and I pray with the sick child that God would reveal Himself. And He always does.

Sometimes He shows up and stops the vomiting (like he did last night). Other times He shows up just to bring peace and comfort, but either way, He always comes. And I am so thankful I get to be the one that holds them in my arms when our Father shows up to reveal a glimpse of Himself to us.