Ahh, calm

Today feels like the calm after a mini storm. Wilder is on the mend. I was worried last night because he was still coughing. I got in to bed with him and we both eventually fell sound asleep. The coughing magically stopped and he slept through the night. Also, yesterday I was in a wreck on my lunch hour. Not my fault, this kid turned in front of me in the intersection. Pretty hard hit but no injuries and the jeep is still driveable (after the wrecker pulled the bumper out of the wheel). Scary though, this is the second time someone has pulled out in front of me in the past year or so. What's the deal? Blake says it must be my magnetic personality, ha. I'm just glad we don't have any injuries to deal with. The worst part is this kid does NOT have insurance. We could be in for a long battle here.

BUT, today is better. Lynda came to pick up the babies so they could ride to Ada with her and get there a little sooner. (We are going to Ada tonight for Christmas with Blake's grandparents and she has the DVD player in her car). So I have a chance to deal with the tornado that hit my house and get us packed so we can get on the road. I love a quiet house. I'm enjoying peppermint tea and taking in our Christmas trees. (we decided to go ahead and put up the big green one, I'm glad we did) Taking a minute to thank God for taking care of all of us this week.
Ok, I've been tagged by both Jenny and Lita, here goes:

8 TV shows I watch.
1. Lost
2. The Office
3. 30 Rock
4. 30 minute meals
5. Barefoot Contessa
6. Wheel of Fortune
7. The news
8. College football (not willingly, subconsciously while I'm sitting next to Blake on the couch knitting)

8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Arby's (curly fries and a frosty, oh man, and the chicken salad sandwhiches yummy)
2. Lanna Thai
3. Bill & Ruth's
4. Elote (healthy mexican food downtown if you haven't tried it)
5. Wherever I can eat good spaghetti.
6. Schlotzsky's (wish we had more of these)
7. Zorba's

8 things that happened today
1. Woke up next to Wilder
2. Made malt-o-meal for both babies, something I know they'll for sure eat.
3. Made coffee for me.
4. Took IB Profeun for a fastly approaching headache.
5. Listened to the Fox and the Hound for the 103rd time.
6. Demanded no more movies and turned on music instead.
7. Danced with Wilder and Gwyn
8. Sat on the couch for a minute with my tea and pet Roy.

8 things I look forward to:
1. My shower today
2. Christmas celebrations with family tonight and next week.
3. Blake's grandmother's cooking this weekend
4. Seeing the kids faces Christmas morning when they see their giganto stuffed animals
5. Conversations with Wilder and Gwyn
6. Teaching next year
7. The future!
8. Bedtime

8 things I wish for:
1. Good health for my family
2. A housekeeper
3. New pillows, towels, sheets. Don't you think a wedding shower at 5 years is a good idea? To replace all the stuff you got 5 years ago?
4. A garden
5. More dedication to reading my Bible and spending time in prayer
6. Blake's heel to stop hurting so he can run again.
7. Me to start running again.
8. For my kids to know and love God.

I tag: Holly, Tasha, Bre, Dayna, Saundra, Kristen, Starr, and Lisa. (that pretty much covers everyone I know that hasn't been tagged and has a blog!)

Can't really think of a title

Wilder was awake from 2am to 5:30am last night coughing. Miserable. Finally after giving him the cough syrup that didn't seem to relieve him quick enough he and Blake made it to the couch for the 100th viewing of Fox and the Hound. Sitting up was the only way to get him to stop coughing. I can't believe he stayed awake for the entire movie. Probably because the cough syrup had a decongestant in it which I've learned is a stimulant. He slept for about 45 minutes this morning before he was awake again coughing. Poor baby. He's had this cold for about two weeks now and is going to the doctor TODAY. I kick myself for hesitating, maybe I could have spared us a few sleepless nights if we had taken him earlier. Last time we took him for a cough the doctor pretty much said it had to run its course and all we could do for him was give him cough syrup. That is generally the way I like to go about things since I am not a big antibiotics fan. Today I am desperate for antibiotics or something that will fix it, now. We've been giving him Benedryl, cough syrup and pain reliever for days it seems, can't be good to be on this stuff for this long. All those warnings on the cough syrup, scary.

One of the worst feelings as a mother is helplessness. If only I could make him stop coughing. All I could do last night is pray repeatedly that God would relieve him so that we all could get needed rest. Well He didn't for whatever reason.

About a week ago I went to Dr. Sears website (askdrsears.com) to figure out which cough syrup to give him and educate myself about all of the many options and came across a link to a medicine called Sinupret. It is a natural, plant based medicine that is supposed to be very safe and effective for sinus support. Very popular in Europe, gaining popularity in the U.S. I am definitely interested in talking to the doc about it and getting some for the next time colds come around. Read about it: www.binoricausa.com. There is also some good info about why alternative medicine is not really trusted by the public so much anymore.

Of course, I am frustrated that this kind of medicine is not readily available to moms. Wouldn't it have been nice to have known about it sooner? I think you have to buy it online. It's like most things alternative or naturally based (meaning you can't find them at Wal-Mart or Walgreens) you have to seek them out. Another example, why don't doctors tell you or recommend probiotics, just antibioitcs?

This stirs me to make a point about awareness. I want to encourage moms to make educated decisions. About birth, health, everything. Seriously, an alterntive approach or not, please just know what your options are! I know that we learn things through experience, that's just how life is. I have learned a lot of things the very hard way particularly through Wilder and I's birth experience. I learned that the practice of birth is treated as a fast-paced, commercialized industry in the US and lots of moms suffer the consequences like unwanted in C-Sections. Sorry if that seems a little harsh. My experience is probably why I am so cautious, paranoid, and distrusting of mainstream healthcare. I went about my pregnancy with Gwyneth so differently and had such a more positive experience. I wish I had a positive memory of Wilder's birth so badly...However, I know it made me a stronger and wiser mom so maybe that was God's plan. Yes, I have had to deal with my paranoia and let trust in God overcome my fear. I'm still working on it and probably always will as a mom.

Anyway...

Sorry about the tangent. I think if we took the time to do a little more research on our own maybe we could save ourselves at least a small percentage of heartache or regret.

I hope some of this made sense and you are able to read between the lines and make connections I'm not able to articulate. I feel better. I'm headed back to the coffee pot!

Update: Just learned that Wilder has a respiratory infection. So yes, thankful for antibiotics today.

It's a long one

I've decided lately I like being a homebody. Maybe it's just because it's a busy time of year, lots of traveling, makes me appreciate and enjoy the time we have at home. More so, because my energy level has been down for about the last month now. Not sure why exactly. Maybe hormones adjusing from weaning Gwyn, Winter, busyness, or maybe just a combination of it all. I'm having to be very realistic as to what I can accomplish and I've been surprisingly OK with lowering my expectations. Especially since I've been spending time observing in Owasso. I'm generally a people pleaser and obsess about getting little things done. Not so much these days. I can definitely attribute motherhood for helping me let go of those traits! Yay! Unfortunately, as a result, my blog is suffering from scarce updating, sorry.

Today and yesterday were good days with the babes and I. Wonderfully exhausting rather than terribly exhausting. I say that because the week leading up to yesterday and today have been difficult with Wilder. He has been emotional and very demanding. Comes with the age I suppose. Getting back into his routine this week has been good for him...he's been much nicer :) We've had lots of time to play, get our Christmas decorations out and not have to go anywhere. Even though I am physically tired from taking care of them at the same time I feel refreshed. Ready to face all that lies ahead in the next few weeks! I think I can, I think I can!

First, a few random updates.
Wildman:
-loves movies and TV right now. Current favorites are The Lion King, Fox and the Hound, and The Junglebook....not crazy about this but I'm trying to roll with it for now. He is still interested in many other activities so not seeing it as a problem at this point.
-Still refers to himself as Wilder (pronounced Wier) instead of I. Actually he doesn't use any pronouns at all.
-We are no where close to being potty trained. Still trying to be patient. He is not interested at all except for an occasional pee in the potty for an M&M about once every other day. I've been showing him big boy underwear, "see how soft these are Wilder? Wilder if you use the potty you don't have to have your diaper changed" (which he hates) "Diapers are for babies" None of it working!
-Has a love/hate relationship with his sister. Plenty of pushing down, steeling toys, kissing and hugging all in the same day.
-He is finally getting out his "just want mommy" stage, this is helpful at bedime!

Gwynny bear:
Of the two if feels like she is the one growing at rapid speed right now. Intellectually and physically. She is going to be a confident and determined young lady. Traits that I'm glad she possess, we just have our work cut out for us! Its wonderful to watch but also a bit sad for me to let go of her as a baby. I love her the size she is now, she still fits so nicely in my lap and arms. Can she please not get any bigger? She always has a smile and a kiss to give away. (she's still in her sweet stage!) She has found her independence and I think she likes it. She is way less dependent on me to fall asleep at bedtime now. Especially since we stopped nursing about 3 weeks ago.

Tonight we went to Spaghetti Warehouse (buy one get one free!). I set her up in her high chair with a plate in front of her with spaghetti and she sat there and ate it like a big girl. I guess I was overall amazed at how good she was (meaning no crying and didn't try to climb on the table) because of how tired she was. Only a 30 min nap all day. Anyway, she has to have a utensil in one hand while she eats with the opposite hand. Occasionally she would try to stab a bite with the fork but doesn't quite have the motor skills for that yet. Oh, and the babbling! We figured out that she has a sound that is similar to the question "What is that?" She is constantly pointing at things and saying tisdat? Pretty cute. And speaking of the lack of naps- Why is it that she will take 2 two hour naps for Lynda but will maybe get an hour in when she is at home with me? Arg.

I find myself constantly wanting to take pictures and capture how cute they are right now. It's like a wave of panic comes over me that they'll grow up too fast and I won't remember the details. On the other hand I don't want to miss moments because I'm scrambling to find my camera either. More reason to slow down and enjoy the details right!

And of a few things Christmas:
I love Christmas decorations. Especially vintage decorations. I could go bananas if I had the moolah! (ok, anything vintage. side note: while shopping in Eureka what did I come home with? a vintage wall clock for $12 from an antique store of all things). Last year I went to the store Vintage Holiday on 11th street and found a few treasures after Christmas including tree toppers and bulbs. Anyway, the silver tree in the pics is only 4.5ft and it is my tree that we usually put up in addition to our big green one. (it's not Blake's favorite, plus it's a little Charlie Brownish) Our big green one may not make it out of the garage at all this year. I think it's on it's last limb. So maybe we'll get a bargain after Christmas on a white tree which is Blake and I's compromise between green and silver! Of my favorite decorations this year is a ceramic tree that Blake's grandmother gave me. (pictured) I love it. I wanted to buy one at Vintage Holiday last year but couldn't afford it. Oh yes, good things do come to those who wait. Gwyn and Wilder have both loved taking the lights in and out of the holes. On my wishlist: I'm keeping my eyes out for the perfect December advent calendar. I think the kids would love one next year. Oh, and a nativity scene.

And, I'm a sucker for Christmas music. All kinds. From cheesy classics to Hymns. I've been trying to sing Oh Holy Night to Gwyn at bedtime but only know the chorus so I just keep humming the tune. So I thought I'd look up the lyrics, I'll share, what a pretty song:

O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world
In sin and error pining
'Till He appeared and the soul felt His worth

The thrill of hope,
The weary world rejoices
For yonder brings a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees
Oh, hear the angel's voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night,
Oh night divine
Oh Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Oh
Long lay the world
In sin and error pining
'Til He appeared and the soul felt His worth
The thrill of hope,
The weary world rejoices
For yonder brings a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O, hear the angel's voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine
O night,
O night divine

The nativity just captures my imagination. How can something so simple be so tremendous? I can't wait to meet Mary in heaven. (and Jesus too of course:)

Anyway, hope everyone is getting over the colds that are going around. I thought we were in the clear but Wilder came down with the crud again yesterday, yuck.

Nite Nite!

Quality time at home!

I attempted a photo shoot today!