Monday in review

Morning started out quiet and peaceful. Izzy came up at 7:15 to get ready for his first day back at school. We had a great time talking and and enjoying some quiet time together. When I dropped him off at school this morning, we got a little surprise. A giant turkey had was walking back and forth in the circle drive and refused to allow a car or bus in or out. Izzy was delighted to see him up close and thought it was hysterical that all of the parents were blasting their horns and revving their engines at the bird. Izzy decided his name was Tom and he thought Tom came to celebrate his first day back to school.

When Asher and I returned home, there was a weird feeling like what do we do now? Before winter break, Asher took a nap during Izzy's school time and I finished my chores. I have decided to cut the morning nap and they both take an afternoon nap at the same time, which left our morning wide open. One problem. Asher didn't seem satisfied that his buddy wasn't home and apparently I don't know how to play anything the right way. He was quiet and a little sad all morning. Both Daddy and Izzy are back to their routine and he was missing them badly. I tried to perk him up by playing the piano with him and singing and chased him around a bit. In the end, he just walked quietly to his room, dumped a basket of toys and kept to himself. It made me a little sad that I couldn't make him happy, but I am hoping as we readjust to the new routine, we can enjoy our special time a little more. When it was time to get Izzy I barely got out the entire sentence: "Asher it is time to pick up brother..do you want to go bye-bye?" I think I got to the word time and he was already opening the door. I think it is more than obvious he missed his brother today.

Izzy was thrilled to come home and was talking a mile-a-minute. The two of them ran off and locked themselves away to play until lunch time. I couldn't make lunch fast enough and Asher came in to get a snack. He normally will eat anything offered, so I laid a Sun Chip down on his table and he gave me a dirty look and opened his hand wide and smashed it into 20 pieces like he just killed the biggest spider known to man!! I gave him a "Mama don't play that" look and he wiped his hand and ran off to Izzy crying. I think I made my point. That soon became the theme of our day as Asher didn't take a nap because he couldn't stop POOPING!!! Are my babies the only ones that seem to only poop when it is time to sleep? Not sure if he has an upset stomach but he is exceptionally regular this week. Come to think of it, I think this is a consequence of the ginormous amounts of buffet food he had yesterday. So really, I did this to myself. Either way, he was too busy pooping to nap. No nap Asher=Very grumpy Asher. The afternoon moved from background noise of whining to all out squeals because Izzy was sitting to close to me or I picked the wrong book to read or HELLO don't even think about crossing your legs. I don't know the kid is random. Izzy at one point got a book to the head and that put Asher in one of his first real time outs. He sat there but did give us a dirty look for one minute. He gave Izzy a big kiss sorry, but furrowed his brow afterwards and babbled as if to say, "Come on Izzy, don't be a traitor!"

Soon after Daddy and Papa came home for the night and I was able to say the words I normally dread, but today they gave me escape from whining...time for Mommy to make dinner!

Asher went to bed early and Izzy and I got to have some play time. He wanted to play Castle. It is by Playmobil and it has 100 pieces, but it is seriously so fun. It is a riot to hear how Izzy's mind works and his imagination is endless! First he wanted me to be the bad guys, so I threw flames from my trebuchet and broke down his castle walls. I tried to steal his treasure and just as I was about to be victorious he took away all of my weapons and sat my guys down and said, "Ok, that is enough. Now our guys are going to be friends ok?" Me: "Um, ok? So what do we do now?" Izzy: "Well, friends play games. What kind of games would you knights like to play? At our castle we have Monopoly and Connect 4. Which is your favorite?" Me: "Hmmm. Wow. This has taken a turn. I guess Connect 4?" He used the treasure chest as the table and pretended to take turns playing the game. Then he said, "See knights, it is great being friends. Sharing is fun."

That pretty much sums Izzy up in a nutshell. He is a lover not a fighter, even in imaginary play. :)

For every cause for patience there was something funny and sweet to fill my day. I am exhausted, but looking forward to a new day with our new routine and hopefully a lot more smiles.

Brunch

Today we went to church and had an amazing service. It was just what I needed after being cooped up for so long! After church Hubby and I took the boys to Tomfooleries for their brunch buffet. We hold a special place in our heart for Tom's. That is where we shared our very first date. Hubby invited me to a birthday thing for his friend and when I showed up it was the three of us! Unexpected, but still very fun. Our lives started over a yummy plate of chicken fingers and really not much has changed since then.

The brunch buffet is delicious and both of our boys are free. Delicious and budget friendly...a win in my book. They serve every breakfast food imaginable plus meatloaf, chicken fingers, chicken parm-ok I have to stop, I am getting hungry just thinking about it. Oh, but I do have to mention CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES. I would pay for the whole buffet just for that item alone. We had such a nice time eating until it hurt. My boys are much like others their age, right now they just kind of pick around at their food and only eat what they have to. Apparently, Tomfooleries is an exception. Asher ate, lots of fruit, waffles, sausage, chicken fingers, biscuit, and a bite of a brownie. That is more than he would eat in a 2 day period at this point! I was amazed. He quietly ate while watching the train go round and round. Izzy loves eating there and in between bites shared stories of his time in church and what is going on in his 4 year old life. It was such a relaxing brunch and my favorite part was the no waiting for service! I think every mother can relate to going out to eat with children and feeling like it would have been easier to eat at home. Keeping the kids occupied and happy, while trying to get them to ignore their grumbling bellies while the food cooks. Then when your food finally arrives, there is all of the cutting, and the serving and the spills and if you are me, all of the cleaning before with the antibacterial wipes...it is exhausting. When the kids are done eating you realize you have only eaten 2 bites of your meal, but you know better than to make your children wait on you, so you box it up to take home. Brunch buffet, makes a moms meal enjoyable. And really is there a better way to end your time with 3 full and happy boys than a chocolate covered strawberry? I think not!

Cabin Fever

We have officially been snowed in for 6 days. That is almost a week. I don't plan on getting out tomorrow as the high for the day is 1. ONE!!!! In other words they should just tell you if you open your front door at all, you will have frost bite. At 9 am, it is supposed to feel like -24. Ironically, my parents got us a very expensive electric blanket for a Christmas present. We have never needed such a thing, so we returned it for a new King size sheet set...they are lovely by the way. Wouldn't you know, one week later, this would happen. I feel like I need to befriend an Eskimo.

My kids have been great this week, but I can tell we are getting a touch of the Cabin Fever. Asher has taken up learning new dances to keep himself entertained. Tonight while we were cooking dinner, he decided (totally randomly I might add), to learn the Moonwalk. He did this for about 20 minutes straight. Of course, an older brother can not be out done, so then Izzy had to show us that he could do the moonwalk too, and much faster. Then how high he could jump, fast he could spin and so on, and so on.

The Christmas toys are losing their excitement. The basement is too freezing cold to enjoy. It looks like tomorrow, Mommy is going to have to get creative. I would hate for Asher to have to learn to drop it like it's hot just to chase the boredom away. :)

For the LOVE

2 A.M. Tuesday morning, I found myself in the bathroom and I might as well never left. I have what seems to be some stomach virus that feels like it is eating through my guts and leaving my back extremely sore. No fever, no other symptoms other than the agonizing pain and annoyance of being in the bathroom every 2 minutes. I haven't really slept since Sunday night so now I am crossing over into the delirious category as well.

Lucky for me, I have two great kids and the sweetest Hubby a girl could ask for. First week back in school, and instead of taking a break in between studying, he was taking care of the boys and making dinner, played with them and even put them to bed. In all of that, my sweet little Izzy came up to visit me in bed and said, "I need to pray for you, this is not good. You are too sick." So he did, and it was precious.

I was hoping after my intermittent 5 minutes of sleep, I would wake up today free of this bug. Not so much. I think I might take my pillow and blanket and move into the bathroom today. Cut out all of those steps. My muscles are beginning to contract and I believe that to be the first step in the side effect called Dehydration.

One good thing has come of this. I weighed in this morning and I have officially dropped all of that nasty Holiday weight plus a pound. I would prefer a less painful weight loss regime, but I don't think I get a choice in this case.

Hubby just brought home Chinese. I know, I am totally stupid and doing myself in, but I haven't eaten a bite since Monday and I figure it isn't going to matter much anyway. I might as well eat something yummy even if it only lasts a second.

I declare this Snow Week!

Kids throughout Kansas City are rejoicing...and the loudest voice you hear may be Izzy's. Tomorrow we are entering day 2 of school cancellations due to inclement weather, with a possible closing on Thursday. I am just calling it a week. Lets stop delaying the inevitable and just call it already. I hate checking and rechecking the websites until our district comes up and the scratching the cute outfit I have planned for Izzy just to be replaced with sweats because it is too dang cold for anything else. This is the week to break out your Snuggies people! Blast! Why did I make fun of those things? I totally wish I would have gotten one for Christmas. Snuggies were made for school closings. I was wrong to think otherwise.

Back to our new normal

Today marks the first day of Hubby's second semester of Medical School. Last semester was challenging to say the least. It took a little while to find our rhythm and feel on top of things instead of drowning in the unknown. The workload is unimaginable. One of his friends put it best when she said Medical School is like drinking from a fire hose. I am sure that is exactly how it feels. Although, I don't have the constant studying and stress, my role changed last semester as well. I felt like a single mother at various times and had conversations with Izzy that were much better suited for a Daddy and son.

We lived for winter break and couldn't wait to spend real quality time together and as a family without the looming tests and deadlines. Hubby got to spend some much needed guy time with his buddies, we were lucky enough to get several dates in and had special time with lots of our friends. My ribs are still sore from all of the laughter we have had and I can't tell you how refreshing something as simple as laughter is. It felt good to be normal again. My only complaint is that it went too quickly.

Winter break was exactly what our boys needed as well. Izzy had been having a rough go of it in November and I guess all he needed was his Daddy. As soon as he had some time he transformed into the old sweet Izzy we love so dearly. Asher had become quite the Mommy's boy until break and now I can barely get that kid to acknowledge my existence! I gladly give it up though, because I know how much it meant to Marcus to get all the loving and snuggles in the last couple of weeks.

Izzy goes back to school tomorrow and that makes me a little sad as well. I have thoroughly enjoyed having him home all day everyday. He has been so kind and helpful and it goes without saying that Asher is going to miss his buddy when school starts back up. Today while the boys were in the bath, Izzy said, "Mama, I love my Ash. He is my best friend. I don't even need nobody else to play with because I love him so much." *heart melt* I know if Asher could talk he would return the love.

Right now, Asher has just woken from his slumber and is sweetly calling out for his Daddy to save him. I know Daddy wishes he could get him up from nap everyday, but hopefully it will make his day that his little guy was calling for him.

As winter break draws to an end, I have reflected on this fabulous quality time and decided that I need to do whatever it takes to keep this going no matter the sacrifice on my part. I am willing to sacrifice my time here and away to keep the closeness we have felt these past weeks going. Med school can really suck your life away and I am determined to enjoy life as we get through each section. I feel much more confident as a mother going into this next semester, I know I can handle everything on my own. This time, I am going to do so with more patience and a lot more smiles.

I have got the time management, the confidence and a more positive outlook on the days to come. Now if it could just stop snowing for like 5 seconds so that I could actually leave my house to resume my normal activities that would be great!

Wishing you all a very happy and blessed 2010!!!
Michael

Trains, planes and automobiles

I know my kids well, but even I have been a little surprised at how well one special gift has went over. The magic Train table!!!

We put the table in Ashers room since he is less territorial. Izzy can hardly wait for him to wake up in the morning and every other minute of the day those two are glued to each other. We have a baby monitor in Ashers room and so I can always hear them playing and this train table has been an amazing thing for their relationship. Literally that is all they do all day. Right now as I type this, they are in Ashers room, giggling, trading trains and making up stories for where their trains are off to. They have always played well together, but since Christmas it is unreal how close they have become.

Today, I even hot glued that thing down so I no longer have to be interrupted with a track destruction call. I think besides the purchase of the train, that could be the smartest thing I have ever done.

Something else I love about that table, it is actually fun for me to play with too. Am I the only mother who dreads the "Lets play armies or Hot Wheels" request? I just don't know what I am supposed to do with them. I don't know any military terms and I just feel like a loser trying to come up with things. My creativity is limited with cars as well. Besides driving through a car wash and having a wreck...I've got nothing.

So now, when they ask me to play trains, I can relax and enjoy. There is something calming about it and the train table makes all the noises for you...no more feeling like a loser for me!

It is almost bedtime for my boys so I better go check on my little conductors.

Choo Choo!