"Poor Little Dy!"

That's what Jake kept saying today at Max's pediatrician visit.

For weeks Max has had congestion and it seems like I can never tell when one cold ends and the next begins. But a few days ago he started wheezing and coughing a lot. I finally decided to take him to the doctor when he had eye drainage and a fever...turns out that he has an ear infection and bronchiolitis. (which I guess is really just an infection that travelled to his lungs) So he's on antibiotics and breathing treatments with a nebulizer (sp?) for a week -- completely new to me.

The real reason for this entry is to blog my older son's sweet concern for his brother. Max needed a treatment at the office and it turned out to be a 15-minute-long, screaming, wrestling match. We were both red-faced and sweating by the end. Max was immediately pushing away the mask (you know how he does, Mom) and hated to be forced into it. Jake didn't like the loud noise the machine made and was really worried about the "smoke" coming from Max's mask. (big fear of fire and smoke lately -- which is good I guess) He was panicky -- "no, no, no Mommy, don't put that on him - he doesn't like it." In an attempt to distract/comfort Max, we sang the ABC song and Jesus Loves Me over and over. Jake had the most concerned face and kept telling Max, "it's otay" and "sh-sh-sh" like I do. Sweet, protective big brother. It was neat to see that in him...

Shopping with Mommy by Max

I had fun with anything she could occupy me with.

I also ate lots of cheerios and grinned at all the friendly faces.

I crashed on the ride home.

Excited to finally get outside!

Last weekend we went to Houston to visit family. I checked the weather before I packed but still didn't pack cool enough clothes! We're used to still needing jackets up here and it was HOT on Sunday when we went to the park there. Lots of fun though...

Jake and Elysa

Emily and Max

the siblings

sweet Grandpa

we're always making them hug! HA!

Lately...

Jake lately...

loves his Buzz Lightyear "suit." I found it really cheap and it might even work for the fall festival next year. Notice him showing me the buttons. He says, "to infinity...and beyond!" and jumps into superhero poses.

So sweet one night: Daddy had a stomach ache and Jake went to his room to fetch him a pillow and blankets -- to "feel him better."

Jake loves this silly thing we got at a garage sale for$.50. (hardly touches some of the nicer toys we've gotten him, you know...) He calls it a robot or spaceship and it has lots of tiny interlocking parts -- wonderful for another little boy about to be crawling everywhere. But he loves changing out the parts and making it fly. He loves anything that "gets" stuff or shoots.

Today Jake took off his Buzz suit and went in his room to get dressed. He came running to tell me that he did it all by himself! He was so proud. I REALLY praised him -- trying to encourage more of this kind of independence (hence the picture taking) so I didn't say anything about his shirt being on backwards. :) Good job Bub!

Max lately...

he's 9 months old (can't believe it) and sweet, sweet.

He claps and says, "aaahhh."
This is how he sleeps -- pacifier and a silky blankie. (Thanks to Grandma Debbie we have 3 of these to rotate through.) He tugs on it and rubs it until he winds down.

Getting Daddy

a favorite picture

LOVES shredded cheese. He kicks and waves his arms in excitement when he sees the bag!

Mothering to Please Jesus

I was lying in bed reading this new book, My Heart's at Home: Becoming the Intentional Mom Your Family Needs by Jill Savage. I had to write this in an effort to encourage my mommy friends -- it really encouraged me. I recently found some old high school friends on Facebook (so addicting - I've wasted entirely too much time on it already) and it's easy to get discouraged. Some of them have big, important, money-earning careers and I find myself not proud to announce that I stay at home with my 2 kiddos. We hear over and over how mothering is the most important job, but it doesn't always sink in. That almost seems like a way of consoling mothers because they don't have "real careers," you know? Sorry to sound harsh, but I'm being honest. So this poem in the book struck a chord with me:

Continue On

by Roy Lessin

A woman once fretted over the usefulness of her life.

She feared she was wasting her potential being a

devoted wife and mother.

She wondered if the time and energy she invested in her

husband and children would make a difference. At times

she got discouraged because so much of what she

did seemed to go unnoticed and unappreciated.

"Is it worth it?" she often wondered.

"Is there something better that

I could be doing with my time?"

It was during one of these moments of questioning

that she heard the still small voice of her heavenly

Father speak to her heart.

"You are a wife and mother because that is what I

have called you to be.

Much of what you do is hidden from the public eye.

But I notice.

Most of what you give is without remuneration.

But I am your reward.

Your husband cannot be the man I have called him to be

without your support. Your influence upon him is greater than

you think and more powerful than you will ever know. I bless

him through your service and honor him through your love.

Your children are precious to Me.

Even more precious than they are to you.

I have entrusted them to your care to raise for Me.

What you invest in them is an offering to Me.

You may never be in the public spotlight.

But your obedience shines as a bright light before Me.

Continue on. Remember you are My servant.

Do all to please Me."

I get in the mindset that Andy and I have had 2 babies and they are ours to raise. Our boys. Wrong! These are God's people that He's given us to raise for a short time. He gave me an incredibly important task with major purpose. He entrusted me with 2 of His own to bring up that they would know and glorify Him. I also am encouraged to remember that Andy is blessed by God through my service and love. I want to think of my dinner-cooking and floor-cleaning and bottle-feeding and Jake-tickling as all service to Jesus. Jesus, may I do it all for You!

Cousins, Jake & Elysa

Digital pictures are so much fun. In going through old picture files I found these and thought it was neat to compare and see how they've grown. Jake is about 3 months older than Elysa - HA!Christmas 2004
2005
2006

2007

Christmas 2007 - How Blessed We Are!

Christmas morning at our house...
Excited about a gumball machine.
Max's breakfast and new drum!

A baseball glub!!

Squealing, "Thank you Ripleys for my train!"

A game for my...
SMART CYCLE!!

Eating his phone from Santa.

We had a mini birthday party for Jesus. Here's Daddy

reading about Jesus' birth from the kids' Bible.

Jake decorating the cake. He didn't mind having cake at 9 am. I didn't get the shot, but he licks off all the icing first and sometimes leaves the rest.
My Aunt Ann made these - so neat!

"Dinosaur glubs"

Christmas at Stotterns & Harringtons

Jake was having a good time.

And I was so excited that my mom got me a Dirt Devil hand vac! I mean really excited! She always used one when we were growing up (right Jim?) and I made a comment to her about needing one but wasn't thinking about a Christmas gift. You know you're a mom when you get excited about something like that... Mom, I love it! I use it often under the boys' spots at the kitchen table.

Debbie's sister, Betty, was so gracious to have us over for Christmas. We had a lot of fun and as always, we got so many neat things. Thank you Dad and Debbie!

Grandpa Joe having a hard time ruining the wrapping paper.