Ordinary Miracles

While I wish I had enough spare cash in the bank to be one of those layaway angels who anonymously provide Christmas miracles for people, this year I'm thankful for the ordinary miracles in my life.

Like Brennan's antibiotics working wonders to heal him. He's sleeping better, eating better, and seems happy. Hopefully he's gaining some weight too since he barely weighed 21 pounds with clothes on when we took him in a week ago for all of the crud he's been dealing with. In fact, he's sleeping so well, that Eric and I reclaimed our bedroom last night. Brennan has been our pint-sized roommate for the last year. It's really been fine as he sleeps through anything. But our intention from the beginning was to have him and Cate share a room.
However, our little guy liked to breastfeed at night and then at 5am once he dropped the night feeding up until about 3 months ago. And then every time we'd plan a weekend to move Brennan in, something would happen-- Cate would be up all night coughing with a cold, Brennan's tonsil issues/gagging issues set in, we'd go out of town, etc. So we decided that this little break of mine would be a good time to do it-- two weeks to adjust before I have to get up for work again. Last night was night one. And my kids rocked it! Brennan didn't wake up when Cate got up to go to the bathroom. He woke himself up a couple of times and hummed himself back to sleep, never waking Cate up.
I'm thankful for the ordinary miracle of sleep. And of the breaks in the academic schedule so I can spend time at home hangin' out with my kiddos. I'm also thankful for the generosity of others. My team of students sponsored a local family for the holidays-- six kids and their mom. Earlier this week, we delivered a trunk full of presents.
And when we found out upon delivery that one of the kids we shopped for was listed as a girl but was really a boy-- well, I'm thankful for the ordinary miracle my colleagues performed as they all braved various stores with less than a week to go before Christmas to get boy clothes and toys. And yes, the boy has a sister one year younger than him that can use all of the stuff we mistakenly collected for a girl.

I'm thankful for the ordinary miracle of the magic of Christmas. Cate is so excited and can't wait for Santa to come. I'm thankful for the ordinary miracle of doctors and nurses that bring life into the world (a year ago today I was in labor with my sweet boy).

The only ordinary miracle I'm holding out for? Being dismissed from jury duty-- I'm supposed to have it for two weeks beginning 1/9 and I really don't want to miss school. We're beginning literature of the Holocaust and our study of the book, Night. Depressing as the topic is, it's really one of my favorite units.

What ordinary miracles are you marveling in this season?

~Melody :-)

Angels We Have Heard On High

Today Cate had her preschool Christmas program. I don't think she expected me to be there because this is how she looked when she walked in and saw me.
I had planned on attending because her program luckily fell during my lunch and plan time at school. However, I had a doctor's appointment today (everything's okay and no, I'm not pregnant...just checking on some stuff). So instead of having to rush back to school, I was able to enjoy her program, the reception afterward, and lunch out with my family before going to the doctor.
Girlfriend sang her heart out. Her class dressed as angels. The two classes of older children were shepherds and wise men. The class of younger children were dressed as sheep. The preschool director and the pastor of the church where Cate attends took turns reading the Christmas story. They would pause for breaks and let each class sing the song they worked on. Cate's class' song was "Angels Watching Over Me." I thought you might enjoy a little video of her. She's second from the left in front.


After it was over, we enjoyed socializing with the other preschool parents. Cate also gave me a tour of her classroom and showed me her latest piece of artwork. Her lead teacher (who also teaches the extra music class that Cate has stayed for on Wednesdays all year) told us that Cate definitely has her dad's ear for music. And she invited Eric to bring in his guitar and play for the kids sometime. I'll have to be sure and take a personal day for that. Even Brennan gets into music now-- boppin' his head and bouncing on his bottom any time he hears a melody.
The countdowns continue-- 2 more school days, 1 week until my little guy turns one and 9 days until Christmas. Our Christmas shopping is DONE! Now we just have a few last minute first birthday party things to take care of.

Brennan's first year book arrived in the mail today.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Photo books are the perfect gift for any occasion.

I'm ready to snuggle up with Eric once the kids are in bed, look through it, and then work on wrapping some presents.

~Melody :-)

Temporary

The countdowns are in single digits (almost)-- 11 days until Christmas morning, 9 days until my little guy turns one, 4 more early mornings until break.

On the health front, I still don't have a lot of news to report-- for me, anyway. One thyroid test came back abnormal, but a more specific test was normal. I'm having my gall bladder checked Friday. Honestly though, I think it's all related to weaning. I have to keep reminding myself to give myself grace, to give my body grace. I carried a baby for 9 months, nursed a baby for 10.5 months before we started weaning, and weaning has been a quick process as opposed to the period of 3-4 months that I took to wean Cate. It's temporary. And I will feel better eventually. Today, I actually felt the best I've felt in awhile. So good that my typical lunch of late-- 1/2 of a PB sandwich, saltines, some fruit, and a Sprite-- didn't sound appealing and I went and got a burger and fries instead.
And then there's Brennan. Yesterday he got to the point where he just flat out screamed when we tried to feed him baby food-- still stage 2, mind you. I took him to the doctor who finally gave him some medicine for a sinus infection (we've either been to the doctor or called the doctor at least once every two weeks since all this nastiness began with him at the beginning of November). She looked at his tonsils though and described them as "generous." Once we clear up the sinus infection, we'll take a look at his tonsils again and see if they need to come out. So my sweet boy may not have a sensitive gag reflex after all. His large tonsils could be causing him pain when he swallows thick, lumpy food. As a result of not eating a lot of solids, my guy has only gained about a pound in 3 months. Again, it's all temporary and I have to remind myself that once he's taken all of his antibiotic and if it comes to surgery, that afterwards he'll be better.

All of this will pass.

And no matter how crappy I feel or how crappy my kids feel or how crappy Eric feels (though thankfully he's been a pretty perfect picture of health lately), we're there for one another and we all make each other smile. On a totally random, other topic--A couple of weeks ago, Cate had parent observation night at dance class. She has made huge improvements! I'll leave you with a picture of her concentrating hard and a short little video from my cell phone.




Peace and blessings to you,
~Melody :-)

Darkness Into Light

For a variety of reasons that I won't get into right now, I've been in a bit of a funk. A lot of it is that I haven't felt physically well since Thanksgiving. And a lot of that has to do with weaning Brennan-- partly because I'm ready to be done and partly because the flu that knocked me out at the beginning of November depleted my supply and I really didn't want to put the effort into getting going again (I had enough stock in the freezer to get my boy to his 11th month). So now we're down to pumping/nursing in the morning (pump on school days/nurse on weekends) and nursing before bed. And my body is pretty much in hormonal hell. Which has left me pretty much in a funk.

I talked to my doctor about this on Friday, opened up to some family and friends later that night, spent some time at a restoration yoga with massage workshop yesterday, enjoyed a candle light service at church this morning, and had a wonderful friend pray with me this afternoon. And you know what? I'm starting to feel better.

I know my doctor still has tests to run. I know my body still has some healing to do. I know I have a long way to go to feel totally better. But I'm confident that this is the beginning of the end of dealing with all of this. I know this funk is temporary and that these physical symptoms won't last forever. I wrapped some presents this weekend, worked on addressing Christmas cards, and am catching more of the spirit. My funk seems to be lifting and I can only give credit to God for answering my prayers for healing. Because He's brought it through family, friends, the wisdom of my doctor, and time to relax this weekend. And I know He'll continue to heal me as I work through all of this.

I've got seven teaching days left until break. And I'm really, really looking forward to that break. I'm looking forward to presents under the tree (yup, we have to have a gate with little man around). I'm looking forward to the joy I'll see on this girl's face come Christmas morning.
And I'm excited to see how this little guy reacts to all of the holiday festivities. And to his first birthday. I'm looking forward to days spent entirely in pajamas, some knitting, some vinyl (my husband has quite the growing collection), coffee, family, friends, and maybe, if we're lucky, some snow.

Merry 2 weeks until Christmas!

~Melody

Santa Baby

Cate...
...loved Santa as a baby.

Last Friday, Brennan put on on the same outfit his big sis wore the first time she met the man in red. I realize it's not his first Christmas-- but he was two days old on his first Christmas last year and we were still in the hospital due to jaundice. Anyway... the outfit may have been the same. The reaction was not. Brennan pretty much cried the whole time he sat on Santa's lap. Sorry for the poor picture quality too-- there were no pictures allowed "on set" like there have been in previous years. We had to commemorate the moment though, so we bought the overpriced 5 x 7 and this is a photo from my phone of that photo.

Oh well, maybe next year.

And on a random note, the song "Santa, Baby" came on the radio the other day-- on one of the stations that's playing all Christmas music all the time until December 26th. We didn't think Cate was paying that much attention, but then she asked us why the singer was calling Santa a baby. Ummm....

After church today she made a little box that had some straw, a piece of fabric, a small plastic pacifier, and a small plastic dog. The point of making the box was for her to use it to understand and tell the Christmas story-- that Jesus was God's gift to people and he came as a baby. He was born in a barn with animals and as Cate said, "wrapped up like a burrito" because the hay was itchy and he needed to stay warm.

Needless to say, we are in the Christmas spirit around here.

~Melody :-)

Out of the Slump (and Thankful for It)

We've been in a little bit of a sickness slump. Two weeks ago, I was so proud that I had both kids fed and ready to take Cate to dance class on my own when Brennan decided to puke all over himself and his high chair 5 minutes before we were to walk out the door. He'd been coming down with a cold, but I wasn't sure if this was stomach bug puking or his sensitive gag reflex puking. I erred on the side of caution and we skipped dance class. Cate. Was. Ticked. But she got over it. It ended up being the gag reflex as Brennan didn't puke again until Wednesday morning when he choked on some more snot. I will be so thankful when the kid learns to blow his nose.

His cold progressed from a deep, barking cough, to a wet cough. Couple that with lots of eye gunk (and a little pink eye), diaper rash, and a runny nose that just wouldn't quit, and suffice it to say, my little guy was a hot mess. He graciously passed his cold onto me, just in time for Thanksgiving. But I could take Nyquil (yes, he still nurses, but the benefits of Nyquil far outweighed any small risk to him). Nevertheless, we headed to my parents-- snotty noses and all for the holiday.

Brennan turned 11 months old the day before Thanksgiving.
I can't believe he'll be a year old in less than a month. This year has been the fastest year ever!

Thanksgiving morning we took it easy, watched the marching band from our alma mater march in Santa for the Macy's parade, and snapped a few photos before we headed to my aunt's. I wish Cate would have had the smile from the first picture in the second picture.
And here she is trying to pose Brennan:
We enjoyed great food and even greater company at my mom's sister's house. Brennan took over the remote as his new favorite toy.
After dinner, we had our annual viewing of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I'm not sure we even need to watch the movie as we all have the movie memorized. And no, we're not staring at a black screen-- the flash makes it look that way.
I actually went out with my mom and sister on Black Friday. I helped them pick out a few toys for my kids for Christmas and then my sister wanted a Kindle that was on sale at Target. It was organized chaos. Thankfully, my wonderful husband let me sleep in that morning. I met up with one of my favorite teachers from middle school and high school for coffee in the afternoon. Then we indulged in a White family tradition-- paintbrush cookies!
Friday night we watched The Blind Side. I can't believe I'd never seen that movie before. My mom picked it up for $3.99 on our midnight Target run. I bought The Time Traveler's Wife and a season of 30 Rock. Little man spent a lot of time looking cute.
Saturday was pretty low key. I finally finished Brennan's alpaca wool hat.
Now it's time to start Cate's. Thankfully she at least has a store-bought hat to hold her over until I finish hers-- which may take me all winter at the slow rate I move with knitting projects.

Seeing as how every college kid who lives in NE Ohio and attends college in Columbus or Cincinnati travels down I-71 the Sunday after Thanksgiving, we decided to head home after dinner Saturday night. Plus, the Browns played the Bengals today in Cincinnati, so we didn't want all of that traffic. And it's rainy today. Our drive home was uneventful-- just the way I like it. No stops, no traffic, and both kids fell asleep.

Today we're glad to be home. We caught up on some housework and laundry, decorated the tree a bit more, and relaxed. Brennan's nose isn't quite as snotty, I'm feeling better, and it looks like Eric and Cate are going to be spared. We seem to have pulled out of our sickness slump just in time to start getting ready for little guy's birthday and Christmas! And for that I am very thankful!

~Melody :-)

Thankful

Tonight, I am thankful for a flexible and understanding boss who allowed me to leave school during my plan time so that I could attend Cate's Thanksgiving Celebration at her school. And I'm thankful for the paraprofessional at school that watched my class for a few minutes when I was late getting back due to an accident on the highway.

Cate brought in her canned goods...
...and took them up to the front.
Next, she took her seat for the program, which consisted of all of the kids singing 2 songs and a short message by the reverend at the church where Cate attends school.
Little guy sat happily through the program.
After the program was over, Cate showed us the cornbread (pilgrim food) that her class made.
One of her teachers drew this turkey! Isn't it amazing?!?
Kids were able to write things they were thankful for (or draw pictures of things they were thankful for) and then put them on the turkey. Yesterday in class, Cate told her teachers she was thankful for her Christmas tree. Yes, we do have ours up. No, it's not even close to decorated-- it's mostly the tree, lights, and a few ornaments. Cate is in love with Christmas. But first...Thanksgiving! Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!

~Melody :-)