Quick Update

Just wanted to let everyone know that it was finally decided that Zeke has pneumonia. We have to watch his breathing because it keeps dipping, but because he doesn't have a fever, has increased his eating, and is actually up playing a bit. He was put on an antibiotic because he has also gotten an ear infection. The poor kid can't catch a break.
Ben just has a rotten cold. He keeps running a low fever and has lots of yucky coughing and sneezing. He also refuses to be put down. As in he has slept in my arms every night since Tuesday. Yes, that is 4 nights of me holding him all night long. He actually layed on the floor and played a few minutes today so I am hoping he is also on the upswing.
I am getting a massage when all this is over is all I have to say...

Home

Just wanted to let all of you know real fast that we are home. Praying for a good night with both boys. Thank you so much for praying we have truly felt it. I will give more info when I am not about to fall over.

Replaced

Already, my son has replaced his love and affection for me. I just really thought this would happen later. I really thought I would get a few years at least where I was the #1 in his world. I really thought that when I was replaced, it would be with at least a human...

"Hmmmm...a little fry with my ketchup, please"

That belly is what happens when you ask a child covered in ketchup to say please, and he signs it for you. Manners are now out the window in these situations

So happy in this newfound relationship

Here is dada about to cart this kiddo off to the tub!

3rd time's a charm

Guess where we are again? As I sit in my house writing this, Spence and Zeke are cozied up in a comfy room at Wake Med. Zeke has been running a weird fever and coughing for a couple days, hasn't eaten since Sunday night, and is just acting really strange. So, we were sent over to the ER for testing. Zeke knows what's going on this time, and is fighting mad each time anyone comes through his room door. Let me tell you, this kid can fight. Zeke does not have pneumonia, flu, RSV, or meningitis. But we don't really know what he has or what's going on. They are keeping him overnight to observe to make sure the fever stays down and that he starts eating and getting some fluids. When we know more, you'll know more. Keep us in your prayers. Especially that Ben who has started coughing and running a low grade fever as well.

Mama's lil helper

Zeke has become so interested in everything I do lately. When I am cooking dinner, he is right underneath me. When I am folding laundry, he is just as quickly unfolding it. When I clean the bathroom, he is fighting to play in the toilet. Yes, things end up taking me at least twice as long, but I have found them much more enjoyable with him by my side. Here are a few pictures of him in action:

The best part of baking a cake

What you don't know, and I do, is that there was never a cupcake in this paper

Just before he climbed this mountain of clothes

Shortly after this was taken, he was inside the dishwasher

McLeansville/Whitsett Trip

Spence went up to Boston Monday through Wednesday this week. He was there for a whirlwind vision trip. We decided to head in to visit our families while he was gone. We spent two nights at Spencer's parents house and had an absolute blast visiting. Here is a recap in pictures:

Zeke ate Jack's for the first time- check out that fried yummy goodness

Shellie & Sierra played hide and seek with Zeke

My parents lab, Gabe, enjoys an afternoon treat

Ben thought Bampa was funny

Ben, Bampa, and Pop posed for a pic

Zeke helped Pop and Bampa grill out

Ben got to hang out with Great Grandma

Zeke refused to sit with Great Grandma, so I hopped into the picture

Zeke and Sophie played with playdoh,

and sidewalk chalk,

and ran all over the backyard.

Pawpaw read Zeke a favorite Goodnight Moon

And Zeke and Sophie cleaned up afterwards

We had a great trip, but I missed Spence. Even with all that family to help, no one can replace the daddy of our house :)

Kisses So Sweet

Ben Solves the World's Problems

We have a genius. Ben has the solution for world hunger, US healthcare, and the age old question of what came first the chicken or the egg.

We just need an interpreter so that we can put that knowledge to use.

Dentist Visit

Monday, Zeke had his second trip to the dentist. It was just as traumatic if not more than the first time. He was still blotchy and doing the whole upset breathing thing when we got home. He really did not like those ladies messing with his teeth. He had to have his tooth that got pushed up looked at, then he had his teeth cleaned and flossed. It was pretty terrible having to hold him down while he cried and said 'mama, mama, mama" over and over again. Thankfully, they are pros and it went super quick. (we were there for a total of 30 minutes, this includes our wait time and everything) He did enjoy choosing a couple toys from the treasure box, and his favorite part was putting it all into a bag. He was also given a toothbrush and a flosser thing. We don't have to go back until his next scheduled cleaning, yay!

Demonstrating the proper way to floss

Checking out the goods

Hanging with Dad

Ben has started recognizing Spence recently. Spence has a blast with Ben and gets the best talking from him (I think). Check out their man time:

So happy!

Intense theological conversation

Arranged Marriages

Spence and I are all for arranging the marriages for our children. We have our eye on a couple of girls already that are definitely in the running (hint, hint, Bryleigh, that's you). BUT here is a picture that we will not be showing potential in-laws.

For Amber

Zeke has gotten really good about putting his hands together when we pray and also about saying "Amen". It is seriously so sweet. Tonight at dinner we were having a cookie for dessert and Zeke put his hands together and said "Amen". I asked him if we should pray, and he put his hands back together. I asked if we should pray for Amber and he said "UmmmER, Amen". So, we prayed for you tonight that God would use you mightily and also that He would protect you. We love you and miss you!!!

For those that don't know, one of our most favoritest people in the world lives in S. Africa. Zeke and I pray for Amber and talk about her often. He loves, loves, loves looking at her blog. Through her ministry I am hoping my sons' hearts grows for missions and for lost people all over the world.

Learning Activities

Once the new year hit, I decided that it was time for Zeke to have an intentional time of learning each day. It isn't like I am just now doing activities with him, but I am now planning those activities in advance. When he was younger, I would do many intentional activities from my therapy days through out our course of our day in his play. Now I am making a more intentional learning time that is based around a Bible story for a week or two (however many activities I want to do with it) and then also some kind of fun or crafty activity as well.
I started off the year with the story of creation and here are some of our activities: I read him the story from his Big Picture Bible. We have played with water, playdoh, a flashlight, picture cards, and a few other things. We have the story time in the morning where I read him the story and then tell him what we are focusing on that day- for creation I have taken each day and talked about what was created. Then in the afternoon we have a time where we work on a craft or other fun activity. For example the day we talked about God creating light, we played with a flashlight. An afternoon activity could be fingerpainting, baking cookies, or putting cards into a box. I am really enjoying using my resources from my working days and it is helping to be sure to carve out time with Zeke that is very purposeful. Here are a few pictures from some of our activities:

He only had to taste it once to realize it wasn't very good :)

"Where were you the night of the 1st?"

Serious concentration.

This is a homemade toy- I cut a slit in a shoebox, printed some pictures (a tree, a dog, shoes, a ball, etc) and laminated them. He tells me what they are and puts them into the box. This works on his verbal skills and also his fine motor. Soon I will show him two pictures and ask him to choose the one I name. I am also thinking about printing out some pictures of our family members because I think he will enjoy seeing them in there also.

Couponing works!

Back in September I took a couponing class. Su taught me some serious stuff. I have been working on collecting coupons and observing and learning what I need to do. Well, today I did it! It is Super Doubles at Harris Teeter (only through tomorrow) which means they double coupons with a face value of $1.98 or less. I hit up the store finally a couple hours ago. It was a very successful trip. I got our week's worth of groceries and I saved more than I spent! Below you will see that I saved $68.41 and spent $59.54. Thank you, Su!!

Risky Business

17 months

Zeke is amost a year and a half!!! I can't not believe it! He is so much fun these days. He learns something new each day. He is gaining words like crazy. He follows two step directions well. He is beginning to really test boundaries and is definitely needing more discipline. He has a stubborn spirit, can't imagine where that comes from... He is my best pal and partner in crime. I know I said yesterday he needs to be taught to sleep, but he really is getting better. We had a whole week of full nights of sleep which is the first week ever. He is a total flirt. He much more comfortable on familiar turf- he talks way more when at home, he acts like he owns the church offices, and knows his way around the kids area at church. He is a total ham.

His head is beginning to brush the bar under the table, soon he won't be able to walk underneath as easily- he's totally going to just walk right into it one day...

Being silly with dada

Sweet daddy moment

Happy Birthday Susie!!

3 Months

Ben is already three months!! I feel like time is going even faster with him than it did with Zeke. He is still a peanut. We don't go to the doctor again until the end of February, but I think he is about 12 pounds. He can still fit into newborn pants so I think he is still pretty shrimpy (one day when he can read I will hopefully have deleted these posts, hehe). He is such a laid back chill kinda guy. He rarely cries. The past few nights he has only woken to eat once a night and is right back down. (now if he can teach his brother to sleep, that would rock!) He hasn't rolled over again, but he loves doing the superman (you know where you lay on your stomach and arch your back to get your legs and head up) He has such a sweet smile, but you totally have to work for it, His laugh sounds like he is scared or mad a lot of times. He loves to "talk" with us.
Here are three pictures to celebrate three months:

"Bright light, bright light"

"Wassup ladies?"

"Hmmmm..."

2009 Rewind

in pictures:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December