As the year 2012 comes to a close, I marvel at how quickly time flies. I realize - with a lot more sadness than I expected - that we are officially leaving behind a stage of life that we have been in for 8 1/2 years....we no longer have an infant or toddler in the house. I dreamed of this time in our life and often felt we would never get to a place without diapers or my ever-present diaper bag. I remember saying, "The days are long and the years are short". These words were truer than I could've imagined since we are now officially in the "childhood stage". The stage of life where everyone can use regular cups, manage the restroom (mostly) alone and - given enough soap in the water - get relatively clean at bath time!
Here are a few thoughts on what I will miss from the infant/toddler stage:
1. Dressing them in whatever clothes I select. They never complained as infants or young toddlers as to what I dressed them in. Now I have 3 different kids with varying tastes, styles and ideas as to what "weather appropriate" means. I also have a ton of laundry from sending children back up to "try again" and finding that they simply discard the rejected outfit into the hamper...
2. Stuff they "need". Now this one caught me completely off-guard! When they are babies/toddlers, everything they need for an outing fits in a diaper bag. If you tend to be extra-prepared, you can even keep a back-up diaper bag in the car. Now the things they "need" for a quick trip to the store leaves little room for the actual groceries we went to get. We constantly look like the "Grapes of Wrath" as we toodle around town. I am often embarrassed as kids open the doors to get out and at least two toys or books tumble to the ground before the kids do. No one prepared me for how much stuff can (and will!) accompany an able-bodied kid.
3. The neatness of my house. Again, I have been surprised at something I thought would get better once the people under my command could understand my words... When babies are little, your messes are of tiny laundry to be folded, or extra blankets from a feeding or spit up. Toddlers take stuff out, but you can clean their messes up in a few quick minutes. Kids literally destroy every single room! They help themselves to snacks and leave everything a wreck; poured the cereal in the pantry (thus the crunchy mess on the floor), poured the milk in the kitchen (check the counter, floor and fridge door that's still open) and then eat it in the breakfast room (if you're lucky!). Then they are off to leave evidence of every single move they make throughout the day. I marvel at the state of my house on a daily basis. I would consider it impressive if it didn't require so much effort on my part!
But that's about all I will miss from the baby stage we are bidding goodbye to. I have paid my dues in my fair share of sleepless nights, worrying about every vaccination/food/new rule, etc. I am looking forward to so many of the wonderful and fun and exciting things I know we are in store for in this new stage. The creativity and excitement that three spirited kiddos bring keeps me on my toes. The plays, art shows, dog shows, concerts, dance contests and even board games keep our evenings active. And - dare I think it - the possibility of family vacations??? Are we finally coming of age that the idea of Disney World can become a reality??? WOW! We got to this point faster than I never thought we would...
I am looking forward to this new year because it has so many exciting changes in store! Gone are my ideals of a clean and orderly house, children who do their "chores" and put their little foil stars to mark it done. Instead, I have decided on a good enough house (it'll be back to perfect in a few short years anyway), chores are now called "blessings" and we choose them from popping balloons and finding out what age-appropriate responsibility we get to take care of during the next month, and we have decided to choose people over projects for this upcoming year. I now realize that I cannot slow life down, but I can make it more meaningful for us in how we spend our time. My New Year's Resolution can be summed up in a few words...Show Love and Have Fun! I think if we do this every day, then we are making an eternal impact in the lives of those around us. And that is ultimately my goal for 2013. Happy New Year!!!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
Intu - what?!?!?!
Intussusception. It's a long word and most of us have never heard of it. My first introduction to this word happened on Thursday, April 19th. Nate was hysterical at school and they needed me to get him - something was wrong with his tummy. When I pulled up to the school, I could hear him screaming - he was in the office and I only had one foot out of my car in the parking lot. I walked in, got him and took him to the car where he had one of his "episodes" in my arms. It looked a bit like a seizure - his eyes rolled back and he arched backwards over my arm screaming. It lasted for a good minute and then he went limp and cried about his tummy. I strapped him in his car seat, and started driving. It hit him again and I immediately started toward the nearest emergency room - something in my gut said go, don't wait. I couldn't get Doug or my mom on the phone for several tries. I second-guessed myself the entire way. When I pulled up to the ER, Nate was in shock - he was a strange grayish color and was sweating like a man who had mowed the yard in August. I carried him in and the triage nurse took us straight away. In less than an hour, the ER doctor had X-rayed, recorded an ultrasound, medicated Nate and had us in an ambulance on the way to Dell Children's hospital. I will never forget the words he used in letting us know what Intussusception would result in if it was not corrected immediately: "uniformly fatal". What an odd way to put it. I will forever be grateful to that doctor and his ER staff - they took unbelievable care of us. We were blessed to be cared for well, and to have the best possible outcomes during both times in the hospital (Thursday and then a relapse on Saturday). We were able to reduce the intussusception both times without surgery.
What I learned from this is what I wanted to share in this post:
1. God is ever-present and working daily in our lives. We know this, but it is amazing to see Him care enough about the smallest of details in your own life. Just a few days before, I had decided to pack a small cooler with snacks and water due to the running around we were doing during the week with soccer, karate and gymnastics. This is something that did not exist before - I always just grabbed what I thought we needed as we blew out the door. That Thursday, I had originally planned to drop the boys at preschool and then go straight to Corley's school to do folder duty and then run by the grocery store. At the very last minute after dropping the boys off (I'm talking I had to change my blinker from going right to going left), I decided to go to the grocery store first and then go have lunch with Corley. If you know me well, you know that last minute is not my gig. I stocked up on groceries, came home and put them away, tidied up a bit and then was standing on the school grounds when I got the call for Nate. A coincidence? I think not. Having food available is huge to us because our food allergies make getting a snack next to impossible - even at a hospital! He was aware of what I was walking into and nudged me until I changed my plans so that we would be more prepared for the week to come. I am thankful!
2. Follow your gut - we call it our gut, but I believe it was the Spirit who nudged me toward the hospital. I would've normally been more conservative opting for observation, etc. instead of going straight to the emergency room. I am so grateful for such a strong prompting - one too strong to be ignored.
3. Be prepared. This week in/out of the hospital opened my eyes to how unprepared most of us are for an emergency. We nod our heads in agreement when people tell us, or we see the folks from the Red Cross talk about 3-day bags on TV, yet we still have the attitude that we will just run out and grab what we need when we need it. My life would have been a bit smoother if I would've had a bag for each family member packed and in the closet. Needless to say, we all have 3-day bags now equipped with snacks, toiletries, clothes, etc. that are in our closets. And I will be working on a 2-week+ supply as recommended by the Red Cross. I encourage everyone to go to the Red Cross website and follow their preparedness recommendations. God-willing we will never have to use them, but it sure does give me peace of mind to know that I will have the needed items should we have to make any more unexpected overnight trips to the hospital!
Thank you to all for your prayers and concerns for Nate. A huge thank you to dear friends and family who stepped up at a moment's notice to take kids, dig through my house for needed items, and provided food - you were all a life-saver and I am truly grateful.
Thank you, God, for being present and active in all areas of my life - and for caring about the smallest details as well as the big things!
What I learned from this is what I wanted to share in this post:
1. God is ever-present and working daily in our lives. We know this, but it is amazing to see Him care enough about the smallest of details in your own life. Just a few days before, I had decided to pack a small cooler with snacks and water due to the running around we were doing during the week with soccer, karate and gymnastics. This is something that did not exist before - I always just grabbed what I thought we needed as we blew out the door. That Thursday, I had originally planned to drop the boys at preschool and then go straight to Corley's school to do folder duty and then run by the grocery store. At the very last minute after dropping the boys off (I'm talking I had to change my blinker from going right to going left), I decided to go to the grocery store first and then go have lunch with Corley. If you know me well, you know that last minute is not my gig. I stocked up on groceries, came home and put them away, tidied up a bit and then was standing on the school grounds when I got the call for Nate. A coincidence? I think not. Having food available is huge to us because our food allergies make getting a snack next to impossible - even at a hospital! He was aware of what I was walking into and nudged me until I changed my plans so that we would be more prepared for the week to come. I am thankful!
2. Follow your gut - we call it our gut, but I believe it was the Spirit who nudged me toward the hospital. I would've normally been more conservative opting for observation, etc. instead of going straight to the emergency room. I am so grateful for such a strong prompting - one too strong to be ignored.
3. Be prepared. This week in/out of the hospital opened my eyes to how unprepared most of us are for an emergency. We nod our heads in agreement when people tell us, or we see the folks from the Red Cross talk about 3-day bags on TV, yet we still have the attitude that we will just run out and grab what we need when we need it. My life would have been a bit smoother if I would've had a bag for each family member packed and in the closet. Needless to say, we all have 3-day bags now equipped with snacks, toiletries, clothes, etc. that are in our closets. And I will be working on a 2-week+ supply as recommended by the Red Cross. I encourage everyone to go to the Red Cross website and follow their preparedness recommendations. God-willing we will never have to use them, but it sure does give me peace of mind to know that I will have the needed items should we have to make any more unexpected overnight trips to the hospital!
Thank you to all for your prayers and concerns for Nate. A huge thank you to dear friends and family who stepped up at a moment's notice to take kids, dig through my house for needed items, and provided food - you were all a life-saver and I am truly grateful.
Thank you, God, for being present and active in all areas of my life - and for caring about the smallest details as well as the big things!
Friday, February 24, 2012
The Tyranny of Things!
I have struggled for some time now with trying to make a peaceful and organized home (mainly since Nate the Great arrived!). I have absolutely worked my tail off day in and day out to keep a neat and tidy home. During all of this picking up and putting away, meals and snacks must be prepared, served, cleaned up, laundry, ironing, school work, and kids actually need to be raised (by me, not the TV). Almost every single friend I have says that I need to just let it go and not let a disorganized (sometimes appalling) house bother me. This is something that I simply cannot accept. I am certainly not obsessed with a clean house - but I believe that it creates a more peaceful environment for everyone...and that creates a happier mom.
I have tried cleaning schedules, I have tried cleaning one day a week...I have tried EVERYTHING. It finally dawned on me that cleaning is not the problem - the problem is the THINGS. Things are everywhere. Some things are good and useful, but approximately 80% are not. We have each accumulated an obnoxious amount of things that we (meaning I) simply move from one spot to another - often daily, but at least weekly. So I have declared WAR!!! I am publishing this post to keep me honest and hold me accountable for all of the threatening I've done to get rid of things.
I am finally doing it - we are having a monster garage sale that will be so big that the kids should get nervous that they might get sold next! I am purging this house of all things baby - diaper changers, rockers, high chairs, strollers, chew toys - all gone! I am purging each closet of the ridiculous amount of clothing (95% of mine is ill-fitting anyway) and will keep only what seems to never get out of the laundry loop (the 5 outfits we wear repeatedly since it just got cleaned). I am purging the kitchen of never-used bowls, gadgets, containers and glasses. I am purging the toys from the kids' closets and game room like there is no tomorrow. I am purging the dust-mite collectors (also known as stuffed animals) with a vengeance. Basically, anything that is not of current value or cannot be replaced (heirloom/photo) is out of here.
You might be surprised by my passion about getting things out of here so I will explain. It goes so much deeper than an exhausted mom who has to pick up toys for 20 minutes before she can even vacuum. Things are getting in the way of my most important relationships. Things are temporal and the relationships with my children, husband, our parents and friends are eternal. How many of us would love to grant the wish of a 5-year-old to go to the park unplanned without rattling off the chores that must be done instead? How often would we like to extend an invitation to dinner to our dear friends or neighbors, but don't because we simply do not have the time to get the house ready and the meal prepared? It has taken me a while to admit that I am not busy with things that matter - I am busy with meaningless things while the important things (people) get pushed to the side. I am doing what so many of us are quick to criticize the career person who works to get ahead while not engaging with their family - same thing, different workplace. When I logged my days, it became evident that I handled inanimate objects far more than I handled the gifts that God placed in my care. That is my reason for this passion to simplify - people. God has entrusted too much in my care for me to set aside for "just a minuted until I get this done". Because when "this is done", it will be too late and "ok, I'm ready now" will be spoken to an empty house. It will be then that I will not want the house to be so neat and tidy.
I have tried cleaning schedules, I have tried cleaning one day a week...I have tried EVERYTHING. It finally dawned on me that cleaning is not the problem - the problem is the THINGS. Things are everywhere. Some things are good and useful, but approximately 80% are not. We have each accumulated an obnoxious amount of things that we (meaning I) simply move from one spot to another - often daily, but at least weekly. So I have declared WAR!!! I am publishing this post to keep me honest and hold me accountable for all of the threatening I've done to get rid of things.
I am finally doing it - we are having a monster garage sale that will be so big that the kids should get nervous that they might get sold next! I am purging this house of all things baby - diaper changers, rockers, high chairs, strollers, chew toys - all gone! I am purging each closet of the ridiculous amount of clothing (95% of mine is ill-fitting anyway) and will keep only what seems to never get out of the laundry loop (the 5 outfits we wear repeatedly since it just got cleaned). I am purging the kitchen of never-used bowls, gadgets, containers and glasses. I am purging the toys from the kids' closets and game room like there is no tomorrow. I am purging the dust-mite collectors (also known as stuffed animals) with a vengeance. Basically, anything that is not of current value or cannot be replaced (heirloom/photo) is out of here.
You might be surprised by my passion about getting things out of here so I will explain. It goes so much deeper than an exhausted mom who has to pick up toys for 20 minutes before she can even vacuum. Things are getting in the way of my most important relationships. Things are temporal and the relationships with my children, husband, our parents and friends are eternal. How many of us would love to grant the wish of a 5-year-old to go to the park unplanned without rattling off the chores that must be done instead? How often would we like to extend an invitation to dinner to our dear friends or neighbors, but don't because we simply do not have the time to get the house ready and the meal prepared? It has taken me a while to admit that I am not busy with things that matter - I am busy with meaningless things while the important things (people) get pushed to the side. I am doing what so many of us are quick to criticize the career person who works to get ahead while not engaging with their family - same thing, different workplace. When I logged my days, it became evident that I handled inanimate objects far more than I handled the gifts that God placed in my care. That is my reason for this passion to simplify - people. God has entrusted too much in my care for me to set aside for "just a minuted until I get this done". Because when "this is done", it will be too late and "ok, I'm ready now" will be spoken to an empty house. It will be then that I will not want the house to be so neat and tidy.
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