Ordinary Miracles

My camera is refusing to talk to my computer right now. I've tried what little I know to fix it. Now I'm waiting for KiSA to ride in and save the day. I hope to have the 2 month birthday pictures, Valentine's Day, and visits to grandparents up soon. Sorry for the delay. Technical difficulties, you know.

...Smile! My sweet little 'un is grinning and as of yesterday, cooing. It is almost more than I can bear. He smiles for all of us--me, Dad, and Big Brother. He got terrifically close to giggling today. Pinch me! How did I get a kid this cute?













Did I just find a ticklish spot?
We play the "I'm about to tickle/kiss/zerbert you" game. He gets so excited and kicks so hard!


"Aw, Mom, you are just hilarious! And did I mention, gorgeous?"



"Stop making me laugh so hard, I'm going to pee in my diaper! Oh, wait..."


Many of you have asked how KiSA's job is going. For the past seven months, the most appropriate answer would have been, "frustrating." Bottom line, it's taken this long to get enough training to do what he was hired to do. But when he got back to work on Monday, he was able to conquer a project that had been driving him up the wall. Now, he's able to tap into that brilliant, mechanically gifted brain and "git 'r done!" He has been so happy to finally--FINALLY--have a sense of accomplishment. I knew he could do it.

We were able to re-join the gym, thanks to our adorable, newest tax deduction. I am soooo excited. Assimilating with my Ipod and working up a sweat is some serious mommy-alone time. It clears my brain, relaxes me, it's gooood. And, I just realized, I could shower there and actually GET to take a real shower, without worrying about who's about to wake up and demolish something or throw up. Me and SK like to play basketball in the kid's gym, which basically means that we chase each other around and play keep away, interspersed with me lifting him up to (try) to make a shot. It's fun. We like to go swimming, too. But I'll have to buy a new swimsuit and some pants, because all I had was maternity clothes!

I like to hold my sons. One of my friends thought SK couldn't walk at 16 months old because I was always carrying him! Alas, all too often my hands must be otherwise occupied. Even the sling or wrap, as much as I love them, won't cut it when veggies need chopping or water boiling. Enter the vibrating musical bouncy chair. He loves it, which means I do, too. Not only is it fun, it keeps him upright and vibrates out the bubbles, which really helps the spitting up.

I have fallen into a bad, naughty, awful, terrible habit of late. I let SK watch entirely too many movies. Yes, I know he's not seeing all the commercials like he would on TV, and yes, it is monitored and screened material. But it still turns his brain to mush. It's not that I don't have ideas for things for him to do otherwise, but just that they require close monitoring, and I do mean close. Which is hard to provide while nursing or cooking. Playdough, coloring (even Color Wonder), puzzles, Legos--all fun, all things we like to do. All things that he manages to make into an abominable mess. Now, he's good at entertaining himself; has prolific creativity and imagination to spare. Acting out his fantasies, however, usually entails enlistment of found household items such as my spatulas, keys (still can't find them), toilet paper, pillowcases and the like. Now, it's not that I need to have the house perfectly clean all the time. FAR from it. But we need to be able to walk through it.

Oh, yee wise teachers and parents, I need ideas. How to engage the preschooler safely, without requiring close supervision?

We are thrilled to have KiSA back again! That was a long, long week without him. SK was 80% well-behaved and sweet while his daddy was away. He was helpful and affectionate and patient. To say thank you, KiSA took him to buy a toy. They spent most of Saturday together out shopping and running errands. They came home with a crossbow that shoots soft balls. It's a hit!




He says he's going to shoot a deer!
















Daddy is his hero!












Friday, Nan came back through town and met us at a playground for a visit. We were thrilled to see her, and her very gracious colleague with whom she was traveling.





She's just a little smitten.
















It was a beautiful day. Finally!







SK is all over the playground equipment now. He simply has no fear. It's incredible. This is a fairly tall slide he is embarking down. Notice the look of glee.















"Whew," he says, "That playing is hard work! Mom, I'm thirsty now."














I did notice some aggressive behavior toward other children on the playground. He was really missing his wrestle time with Dad. They spent extra tickle/wrestle/snuggle time together Saturday, and that has really helped the little guy's mood.

We went to church this morning! I was so excited that I was annoyingly chipper. We put RnT in the nursery, and he did great. One of our good friends was the substitute teacher, and a couple we know and like were the parent volunteers. He slept in one of their arms the entire time, and I didn't worry about him a bit. Then we went out to eat, and he made one of the messiest diapers ever. If we had been at home, it was one of those that would have qualified him for a bath! I had just used my last diaper of his to change him when we had first gotten to the restaurant, so I had to use one of SK's size 4 diapers and fold it over. But between cleaning up the first diaper and applying the second, he firehosed everywhere. Argh. At least I brought a second extra outfit.

Our Sunday School class just started a series on evangelism last week, which is excellent. Our teacher is a university professor who just published a book on the Great Awakening. His teaching is always so engaging, and it really feeds my brain as well as my soul. Of course, we loved to see our friends again. The worship service was, as usual, amazing. The orchestra was there this week, and it was my first time back up in the choir loft in several months. It is truly a privilege to serve alongside such gifted musicians, a sense which is deepened by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. Our associate pastor is teaching a sermon series on the church being the bride of Christ, and how we should be preparing ourselves for the bridegroom's return. It was so compelling.

A ministry has grown up out of our church whose focus has been outreach to women who work at the local topless bars. The leader of that ministry shared a bit about it, and I was excited to hear her passion for people. They are reaching out as well to the homeless and poverty-stricken in our city. It's so clear that this is where Jesus would be if he were physically present today. I've been honored to pray for them, and will continue to. It's exciting to see where it will go!

I love our church!

The rings under my sweet boys' eyes are slowly disappearing. We've been having a lot of quiet time, snuggling, doing puzzles and watching movies. While we are well by all measurable
means, I can tell we are still tired.



Check out the cheeks! Yes, those are dimples.








Since the day he was born, literally, SK has been legendary in his ability to fight sleep. Not this week, though. I've been attempting to establish some sort of daily routine. I don't know if this is an effect of that, or recuperation, or both. At any rate, we've had naps every day but one.




Ah, the old standby--falling asleep in the car. Here he is a year ago, sacked out after some big activity. Note the hand still in the snack cup, and kangaroo and baby doll on standby.






Mom (aka Nan) went to a conference in the capitol, and dropped off a care package on the way. Dad (Babu) had cooked beef roast, potatoes and carrots, and she had made some beef, barley and vegetable soup. YUM! It was so comforting and sweet to get home cooked food, made with love. They sent some small gifts as well, which kept us entertained! That wooden bead necklace looks just fabulous with SKs camo rubber boots. Thank you, guys. I only wish I could hold you and let you hold the boys. We miss you.






This is Scoop. He moves dirt and rocks.













Scoop and SK hard at work. Just like Bob the Builder.






I am glad it is supposed to be nice outside tomorrow. The walls are closin' in, ya' know? Although we did have a big outing--went to the grocery store and rented a movie out of one of those $1 a day kiosks. We got Underdog. It was cute, but still a little intense for a 3 year-old. He gets worried when anyone gets hurt or yells at each other. As soon as it was over, he looked at Jackson and said, "Mama, our puppy goin' to fly?"




Jackson playing in the leaves, Nov. '05









I bought Ice Age the other day, which we have watched ad nauseum. And my neighbor loaned us her copy of Polar Express. So we've been pretending to be either riding a train (do you have your ticket?), being a dog, being a mammoth, or all three simultaneously.

I've also been climbing mountains today. You know, Mount Washmore, Mount Foldmore and Mount Sortmore. Little RnT has moved up into 3-6 month clothes already, so I'm putting away his newborn things and pulling out the next size. And I'm trying to catch up on the laundry. RnT throws up usually once every day, and spits up many more times than that. So I change him and me several times a day. And SK has always gone through at least two outfits a day (jelly, mud, markers--all the usual suspects). Plus I'm cloth diapering both of them, and there's all the burp cloths, changing table covers, sheets, towels--it's truly a sight to see. Not a pretty one, though.



He's been my laundry helper since the beginning. That basket really looked like it needed unloading! This picture is from Jan. '06, so he was 13 months old.













I thank God again that we are healed. Especially that RnT has stayed well hydrated and almost congestion-free. I am so very relieved.

"Jesus loves me, this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak
But he is STRONG!
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me;
The Bible tells me so."

So we sang softly together while snuggling in the dark, my son's sweet little voice and mine. New meaning springs out of those words when clinging to Jesus is all I have left.

Rnt tested positive for you know, that bug, yesterday morning. What I felt Sun. evening was no doubt the same thing. But Jesus' name is above all names, which is why none of us had a fever today. I am so thankful--He deserves all praise. He can and will give me what I need to take the next step.

Thank you for your prayers. Please make sure to read Jan. 16 post, "To All the Nice People."

SK has the flu. We caught it early and he's doing o.k., but I still feel so sorry for him. It's running just like KiSA's did, and hopefully will be as short. It came fast, and with no warning.

Please join us in praying that RnT doesn't get it. 7-week olds and the flu are not a good mix.

From what I gathered at choir rehearsal Wed. night, the service this Sunday is going to be very special and powerful. I am really disappointed that we are going to miss it. We were so looking forward to seeing our friends in ABF (Sunday School), many of whom we haven't seen since the progressive dinner on Dec. 7th.

Oh, I have so many things to tell you all, mostly cute little newsy things. But for now, I have to announce that my parents got the results of my father's PET and CAT scans. They were performed on Monday at the halfway point of his chemotherapy series to check progress. He has been fighting Hodgkins' Lymphoma since last fall. The tests showed dramatic improvement! We are praising God! They scheduled the second half of his treatment. It must be unbelievably tough to stay positive when staring in the face of imminent suffering.




Babu meets the newest little warrior.








At SK's third BD party. Babu and SK so handsome, and Nan so beautiful!







While I've heard people talk about how hard chemotherapy can be, I truly had no idea the degree of suffering chemotherapy patients endure. Even now, all I know is what he has told me, and what I have seen while living an hour away. Nevertheless, I now understand that these drugs can turn a person's body inside out and wring it dry. It must take a tremendous amount of courage just to get out of bed in the morning, especially when you've been awake all night. I am so proud of him, for the honesty and boldness he has displayed in this fight.

This makes me think of another person whose courage I admire. My sister-in-law has been struggling with MS for several years now with an extraordinary degree of grace and poise. She is strong and resolute, yet still has a fully functioning sense of humor, thank you very much. Both of you are inspiring to me; I just wanted you to know that.




Aunt C gets a baby fix. Thanks for coming to see us!







KiSA resumed donating platelets on Friday. He is CMV-neg, which means that his blood can be given to babies and cancer patients. And he is A-neg, which is hard to find as well. They love to see him walk through the door! I'm not sure how many gallons he's given by now, several I'm sure. I am so proud of him for taking out of his free time to do something that saves lives.
SK likes to wear the compression bandage after his daddy's done with it. This picture is from last winter (2 yrs old)--just like Daddy.