Week of June 24th

Sunday June 24th
Lydia is now six months old.  I find it amazing that one half of the year is already over.  She is trying to eat everything and is so anxious to eat more foods.  I'm not so anxious.  I'm content just nursing her.  I give her rice cereal and little bits of fruits and veggies but I haven't done more yet.  ::sigh:: I guess I'll have to let her grow up sooner or later.

Somebody loves to eat!

That spoon is sure fun to teeth on

Daniel was still sick so Brent stay home from church with him.  I teach Sharing time for one month every 3 months and June was my month so today was my last sharing time for awhile.  My wonderful friend, Vikki, takes Lydia for me almost every week while I take care of my primary responsibilities.  I'm so grateful to her and the other ladies that so generously tend her.  It makes my life easier. I made a super yummy pot roast for dinner and the rest of the evening was low-key. I enjoyed the quiet evening with Brent and the kiddos.  It was needed.


Monday 25th
Had another round of Physical Therapy this morning.  I didn't cry this time, even though I wanted to.  One of the workers there showed me some exercises to do, as we talked she told me she also had also had an SI joint injury.  She's the first person I've talked to that has had the same problem as I.  It was so nice to talk to somebody that completely understood how I feel and could suggest things that had helped her.  I have more exercises to do than I have time for, but I'm doing all I can.  I don't see any running in my near future but I do have hope for pain-reduced days soon.

Daniel was well enough today so after naptime we went to Karate.  He was so much better today!  He participated 30 of the 45 minutes.  I was so pleased.  I have hope for him after all.

Brindy and I went to our second class of hot yoga.  This time I sweat more and I was dizzier.  I followed the modifications my physical therapist suggested and I didn't hurt as much afterwards.  It felt great.  My lungs feel so open and clean.  It was an easier class and the 90 minutes felt faster to me.  Good times.

Tuesday 26th
The boys were climbing our maple tree in the backyard.  They do this often.  Jacob got higher then ever before and wanted me to see.  I snapped  a picture while I was at it.

Lydia got whatever Daniel had and today she was one unhappy girl.  She didn't sleep well, has a runny nose and is constantly sneezing.  On top of that she's teething.  Poor girl.

I had a really hard afternoon and evening and fled to cooking group as soon as I got Lydia down for the night.  I stayed up too late talking with Brent about how we should be parenting (especially Jacob right now).  We are struggling with him right now and our normal discipline tactics aren't working.  I feel like I am warning him or disciplining him most of the day and that's exhausting!  What do you, my few readers, suggest for disciplining?  Specifically, he is experimenting with spitting and he has spit on several people but mostly Daniel.  He also uses inappropriate talk about his body, like pretending to pee or hold himself and wiggle.  It sounds innocent enough but when he did this in front of the mirrors at Karate yesterday I was so embarrassed by his poor behavior.  We currently use time outs, or he looses game/tv privileges, and with "potty talk" he gets hot sauce.  None of these methods are solving the problem nor do they seem to be enough incentive to keep him from doing these things.  I'm worried because I see him getting worse.

Wednesday 27th
Lydia slept the night through (though fitfully at times) and finally woke up to nurse just before 6 am.  She was so congested that nursing was difficult.  After 10 minutes she lifted her head up and threw up all over me.  It was like a waterfall flowing out of her!  I couldn't believe she could possibly have that much in her tiny stomach.  I called for Brent to come in and clean her up so I could shower, it was THAT bad!  She was up for another hour after that and then I spent the next hour holding her, walking with her and trying to get her to sleep.  She'd fall asleep and then wake up and whimper or look around to make sure I was there.  So I just held her.  After a long while of that my arms were tired, I was tired and so I put her down praying that she'd stay asleep.  She did and I was able to get another hour of sleep.

I declared a sick day and we didn't go anywhere.  I took care of only the minimum around the house and we just hung out together.  I made some delicious banana bread and the day went ok considering all.  It was such a beautiful day (after several days of rain) that it would've been nice to take the kids to a park.  I hope we get more days like that soon.

Thursday 28th
Lydia had her 6 month well-child visit and round of immunizations.  She did so well.  She is growing and developing perfectly.  She is now 2'2.5" and 18 lbs.  I was sad to hear they are closing our pediatricians office and I will need to find a new doctor unless I want to drive 20 minutes to follow our doc. to his new location.  Sad times.  Having the kids' doctor only 1.5 miles from our home has been so nice.

After lunch while the sun was still shining I packed up the kids and we went to, what we call, the "Dump truck Park."  It's a 10 min. drive but so fun.  The boys had a blast and Lydia enjoyed pulling all grass out she could reach.  It started getting cloudy when we got home so I'm glad we went when we did.

I went to hot yoga tonight and enjoyed it.  I can already see improvement (though small) in my flexibility.  The modifications I am making keep my joint pain to a minimum.

Friday 29th
I started feeling like I was coming down with what Daniel and Lydia had.  My throat is sore and I feel tired.  So I took it as easy as possible.  We had a going away party in the evening for some good friend's of ours and we had a great time.  Three of my good friends have either moved or will move all in this past spring and upcoming month.  I feel so bittersweet about it.  The moves were all great for each of them individually but I am so sad to not have them around any longer.  They have made my life here in Oregon, without family nearby, easier.  I know friends come and go but it is still hard.

The bishop called today to ask us to speak in Sacrament meeting on July 8th.  Topic is Eternal Families.  Oddly, I am not nervous about it.  However, Brent might be getting an ulcer.  Poor guy has a lot on his mind and this being added to it doesn't help.

Saturday 30th
We did a lot of errands and projects around the house.  I continued to take it easy.  We have been looking into finding a shed and it's proving to be a lot harder than I anticipated.  We purchased fireworks and the boys got to go down and gigantic (20' tall?) inflated slide shaped like a shark.  Jacob thought it was the coolest thing ever.  Daniel not so much.

Sunday July 1st
Today was a nice, laid-back day.  I made meatloaf for dinner.  It was awesome.   Another week gone.  This upcoming week is going to be another busy one and we hope to go camping at the end of it if the weather stays nice.

Readers: Do you mind this journal style of writing on my blog?  Would it be easier to break it up vs. having one week all in one chunk?  Thoughts?