Keep your receipts!

It seems that when things happen, we're left wondering how we could have fixed them. For example, it might make sense to some of you to keep all your receipts for car fixes, repairs, oil changes readily available. Well, we don't. We keep the major things but not the oil changes, etc. Well, yesterday a part of Alex's engine fell off but we're still under warranty. However, they're asking for proof of all our oil changes. So Alex has been running around to all the Jiffy Lube's and other places he might have gotten an oil change. We're missing all the info from 2006, which is when we were in Nantucket. So, what do you want to bet they won't give us a new engine if we can't prove oil changes in 2006????? So, a word to the wise, keep all oil change receipts and get oil changes regularly. These corporations are like insurance companies...they'll try to get out of it if possible.

Easter

Well, we made it through our first Easter. We had friends visiting all last week and we had a good time eating out and sight seeing, doing some touristy things. Then we were at the grandparent's house all weekend for Betsy's Bday party and Easter. I only had to make dessert, brownies, so that was nice. Ryan is on an antibiotic to get rid of his sinus infection and James is in candy detox. This was the first time James had real candy so it was a serious treat. Many times we couldn't find James because he had taken an egg and had hid somewhere eating the jelly beans in it. It's amazing how quickly they learn to be sneaky. On Saturday, it was 77 and the boys were able to get in the pool, which is heated. The first swim of the season. Now it's 50 degrees outside so we're hoping it warms up soon so we can go swimming.

James enjoyed the easter egg hunt, although he was more interested in the jelly beans and lizards. Overall, it was a successful day. We're all exhausted and Alex and I could use a weekend trip, but other than that, we're doing well.

Month of Yucks

As you've probably already read, I had a kidney infection which kept me out of commission for 6 days or so. After that my husband and children passed around a bad cold which Ryan is still working on. After 1 1/2 weeks of the kidney infection, I got strep throat. After that, a sinus infection. I will say that I'm glad the sicknesses got less painful and I didn't have to stay in bed for a long period with them. But I am turning 30 next month and I guess this is what happens when you get old. Your body stops functioning. Well, it's not that bad, but I'm not terribly excited about 30. But I guess it doesn't matter cause it will happen anyways.

Self Discipline

Well, parenting and disciplining a 2 year old can get very challening. It's impressive how much they understand. We've been working with James on obeying us after we give some directions. So, he was walking up stairs to get Alex, I suppose, and I kept telling him to come down. He started shaking his head "no", but finally came down. We told him he'd get a spanking for not obeying. So, once he got downstairs, he gave himself a spank on the bottom. Not wanting to encourage him but also surprised, we ended up not spanking him himself. I guess we figured that the realization of the wrong doing and self action was sufficient this time. Let's hope he doesn't make a habit of that. Also, It's been rumored from my that I have never received enough spanking, but how much is enough??? It's also been rumored that our fathered believed in the self-discipline, which required us taking a wooden spoon upstairs into a bedroom and spanking ourselves. So maybe it runs in my family.

The Ides of March

Sometimes when the water is calm, I have time to think and sometimes complain. So, sometimes it's better when there is something going on to keep my attention busy. Well, we got more than we expected the past few weeks. As you know, I got a kidney infection a few weeks ago that kept me in the bed and house for 5 days. Day 6 was better but I was still trying to get my energy up. Just in time for my son, Ryan, to come down with a nasty cold. Fever, congestion, runny nose. Nothing medical that required antibiotics, just a cold. Oh, and then fever rash after that. So after many calls to the pediatrician, I was fairly comfortable that Ryan would have to ride it out. This is all new to me because James was never sick, not a cold, nothing. I figured Ryan's cold would get passed around, but I was just expecting colds. About a week after Ryan's cold started, Alex started getting sick. This is the 3rd time he's had this cold which consists of coughing, headaches, body aches and congestion. Remedy, stay in bed for a day or two. Right around then, James got a heavy congestion thing that didn't seem to bother him, but it bothered me. So, at night, James' cough got bad and one night he threw up, the next he had a fever but that seemed to be it. He's had a loss of appetite so popsicles have become a staple around here. Then I started feeling a little poor, like a cold was coming on. Nothing to worry about since everyone in my house has had a cold. Well, I went to the Dr on Sunday to be told I have Strep throat. Great. That's what I said to the Dr. So, I'm still on penicillin, 3x a day for 10 days. James still has a cough and won't take naps. Ryan is getting the runny nose and low grade fever again. Alex is better but still coughing. Me, I'm exhausted but happy to have my first cup of coffee after a few days of not. So, how many times will this get passed around? To also add to the fun, my mother-n-law, Betsy, just got the flu. She helped us out with watching Ryan a few times, so hopefully Ryan doesn't get the flu and then start this again.

Do I have your sympathy yet??? Just kidding. I'm just happy to be out of bed, sort of.

Firstborns

Well, I got to go to church this past Sunday. Alex was home with Ryan because he's recovering from a cold. So, I took James and we had a special time together. Our church just hired a new pastor who starts next week, so the temporary Irish pastor had his last sermon on Sunday. He was finishing up Nehemiah. And he was reading about the Levites who gave their first fruits, firstborns, first crops, first monies, etc. to the church. I know that to give the Lord our "firsts" is a common principle based on giving back to the Lord what he has given us because it belongs to him anyways. But I started thinking about firstborns and why would my firstborn be any more special than my 2nd or 3rd, etc? Is he medically or scientifically "better" than the following children? Is the DNA he receives better because it's the first? Then I started thinking about strawberries and sometimes the 2nd round of strawberries from the local farms taste better than the 1st round. So, maybe it's not all about the best but the sacrifice of giving the first back before we give ourselves anything. I know it's elementary, but having 2 children I think about things differently.

So, here's a picture of my firstborn. He figured out that those shoes make a pretty good noise on the floor. I didn't put him up to it, but I have been known to put pearls on my nephews...