Christmas Is Coming...Mommy's getting fat!

We had a killer stomach bug this month. Brutal. And about the third day in, my dryer BROKE.
Of course.
And I was hanging up three loads of laundry a day, in front of the wood burning stove. Sheets and pillowcases and blankets and pajamas...plus the normal loads. It was sad. Then kind of enjoyable. And, eventually, I felt industrious and maybe even a smidge proud.
Grandma, ALL those years you hung laundry in the winter, inside the house? I appreciate them.

We had two children with fevers and my bursitis was acting up, but we knew if we didn't go to pick out a tree this day, it just wasn't going to happen. We planned on getting something very, very, very small.
This is about par for all our plans.
 

It started snowing while we were waiting for Matt to shove the gigundo tree INSIDE our van.
It was a moment to document because I think we usually let this times pass us by without appreciating the simple wonders of God. It felt magical and peaceful, even with Danny and Essie's sickies. (Esther not pictured because...well, she's Esther...and she didn't want to take a picture in front of a car.)



Inside the garden store, after cookies and spiced cider.
Happy babies.

Daniel, "helping" Matt put the crib together for the new baby.

Bag packed. Crib Assembled. Grandma's blanket waiting.

One of the funniest gifts we have received so far.

The kids thought THIS ONE was the funniest.

Esther found my phone. I have thirty-four of these.

Our church adopted us this Christmas and supplied us with enough food for Christmas.
Christmas 2016...
Christmas 2017...
Christmas 2018...

We are so grateful.

These two.
Matt and I wake up early, usually around 4a-5a.
We do this in the hopes of having just a couple quiet moments together.
But every single morning, this happens.
They come down. They eat. They talk. They fight.
LOUD.
EVERYTHING IS SO LOUD.
We keep saying we should wake up earlier to avoid this, but I am certain they have radar and know when our feet hit the floor.

But then we have moments like this and I remember that someday we WILL be alone.
And it will be quiet.
And I will MISS THIS.
So, I am appreciating and soaking in and trying to love every single loud and teary morning.

Brave Baby Tom. This recent virus kicked him pretty hard. He fought it for about 9 days. He's definitely on the other side of it now, and I feel nothing but gratitude.

Syracuse, You are CRAZY SNOWY.

Lando loves the kids. I don't know why. If I were a cat, I'd be terrified of them. Unpredictable, Loud, and Tactile humans running after me 12 hours a day? No, thank you.
But, he loves loves loves loves them.
Also, they feed him about 4998734987 times a day.
Soooooo.

Grateful for every moment.

Nathan was not happy because all the haircut lollipops were the same color.
It was Christmas season, so I handed out candy canes instead.
Still not thrilled. 

Isn't Thomas an amazing artist? At just seven years old, he actually teaches my art class for me to the rest of the kids.
He tells me it's ok that I can't draw well.
"I think you are good at lots of other things, Mom."

Sick sick sick sick.
This was between 3-4a.
Watching train documentaries on the couch with popsicles.
It was exhausting, but excellent, time.

Christmas photos. Always a hoot.

Me: Esther, could you just be good for ONE picture?
Esther: Sure, Mom. I'll be the holiest.
Me:...

Got It.

Preparation

We are expecting number 7 to arrive within the next month.

 

When we first found out we were pregnant with this baby, I had it set in my mind that I would stay busy with everything in my day to day so the pregnancy would pass by quickly. I wouldn't think much about it. I would get projects done, pay attention to the six babes outside my uterus, and before I knew it, I would be at the very end of my third trimester.

Then...

I had 23 weeks straight of morning sickness. Somewhere in there, I damaged my knee and developed bursitis, limiting my physical movement to practically nothing. My blood pressure shot through the roof. I began having shortness of breath and chest pains, earning myself an emergency appointment with a cardiologist. I had an EKG, echocardiogram and 48 hour Holter monitor done. We discovered I was having episodes of ventricular tachycardia and supraventricular tachycardia. The cardiologist wasn't sure if my symptoms were brought on by pregnancy or if this was an underlying condition that was being exacerbated by pregnancy. Regardless, he told me, it would take an act of congress for him to start me on medication because I was already 34 weeks pregnant. Any medication he would start to help with my heart rate and blood pressure would have to be discontinued about a month before delivery. We were too close. It would affect the baby's growth now.

 

I sat in his office, completely confused. 

 

34 weeks? Wait. What?! When did that happen?

 

"Lay low and try to stay peaceful," the doctor says, "We will figure your heart issues out after delivery."

 

ok.

ok.

ok.

Deep Breath.

 

I went home and continued laying low.

Then, just three days ago, Matt asked me when we were going to take the tour of the hospital for delivery. "We are delivering at a new hospital this time and have no idea how to get there or where to park," says Matt.

And I think I said something intelligent back to him. Something like, "We have plenty of time." 

Then I checked the hospital website and discovered that we were supposed to have two tours before delivery, the first at 28 weeks...and the second at 34 weeks.

Whoops.

 

At the OBGYN's office, they had a magazine that read on the cover page

"150 MUST-HAVES FOR YOUR NEWBORN!"

150? I could only think of, like, 7.

And then, I promptly realized I had NONE of the seven things to get ready.

Whoops.

 

So, here I am, 36 weeks along, and in full-blown panic mode.

I am not ready!
What have I done?

The baby clothes are scattered throughout the house, on random baby dolls, stored in bags in closets, in dress-up bins. We have a crib somewhere, in a box, in pieces. But! I remembered! We have the bassinet pack n' play! I'll get that out!

 

 

ummmmmm.

Missing the bassinet attachments.

Whoops.

 

Ok.

ok.

ok.

Another deep breath.

 

And I walk into the kitchen. And I remember that really all the new baby needs is 1 thing.

His Family.

Ok, maybe 2 things.

He needs his great-grandmother's handmade blanket.

 

 

He needs family and his blanket.

 

 

 

When Advent Feels Like Lent

Advent 2016

Danny is showing me how strong he is. Tommy is showing Danny how much MORE stronger he is.
Daniel was the one who put his muscles to work on my poor, mangled Advent wreath.
He was so angry because I wouldn't light the candles so he could blow them out while I sang "Happy Birthday to Danny!"
I believe my exact words *before* he turned the candles into nun chucks were "It is most certainly NOT your birthday. Please help your friends set the table for dinner."
 

 THE VERY NEXT DAY...

Daniel woke up at 3am, just wanting to hold my hand. And his demands continued ALL DAY LONG.
This particular tantrum took place at 7:30am, because Thomas wouldn't read to him or play with him...he had schoolwork to do.
Life is so hard when you are two.

Twenty Minutes Later...

Esther came to me crying. Missing HALF OF HER HAIR.
"I don't know where it went! Everyone is laughing at me!"
 

Found it. She tried to hide it in the garbage can in her bedroom. She had found Sarah's sewing scissors and went to work on her beautiful golden-white locks.

The hairdresser we took her to is a miracle worker.

.We've had a stomach bug since before Thanksgiving. It has worked it's way, sloooooowly, through the entire family.
I absolutely MUST document how Nathan is my most favorite sick child. He smiles and smiles and smiles. Even with a fever. This picture was taken 5 minutes after he threw up. I mean, as a mother, I have to be grateful.