Thoughts of the Day

If you throw balls at light switches, you can turn the light on and off all by yourself...

Construction paper makes very cool hats until boys get bored with them and rip the hats to shreads, then it's just paper again...

No matter how small the kids are, the numbers are usually in their favor... 2 to 1...

Boys love to wrestle, it doesn't matter that someone always gets hurt, they will keep doing it anyway...

If there's no blood, you're okay...

"Mine" seems to be the word of the day...

They learn dozens of new things every single day, they soak it all up like they can't get enough...

The boys would be able to hold their own in a mosh pit (with other 2 year olds!)...

Curious George is very entertaining... the best thing about it is that daddy gets home before it's over...

I hope they never stop hugging... I love their hugs... They instantly cheer me up...

I never get tired of hearing "Mommy"...

I am in constant amazement of my boys... ALL of them... I love the 3 of you more than I can ever tell you...

I get it...

After 38 days of being emergency room free, our streak was broken on Tuesday night. I thought that maybe those days were behind us, but I guess they're not... Ben had a seizure Tuesday night and we're not completely sure why this time. We think it has something to do with the level of anti seizure meds in his blood so now we will try and fix this issue. There's always something, isn't there??? Just when you think you can let down your guard a bit because you've taken care of the last problem, something new comes up to bite you right in the ass!

I'm tired of seeing my boy have to go through this, I'm tired of sitting in ERs waiting to see a different doctor everytime, I am sooo tired of waiting for the next one to happen and most of all I'm tired of starting to feel safe again only to be proved wrong... (please excuse my ranting...it needs to come out!!) On Tuesday night, watching Ben sleep in the hospital bed in the ER, I began thinking about how used to this whole process we have become. We know ambulance drivers, EMTs, nurses, etc. by their faces... we say things like "oh yeah, you were here last time" or "last time I got to sit in the back of the ambulance." I was thinking how no one should have to go through the fear and everything else that comes with having a child who has a serious illness. But then I also thought about other people who might look at me and say "Really - you've only been to the ER 5 times! We spend everyday at the hospital with our child..." We did not have to stay overnight in the hospital this time, but Nick packed a perfect overnight bag just in case... (The first overnight in the hospital, Nick had to go back to our house 3 different times to get things that we had forgotten we would need.. now he's a pro!) We learn more with every seizure that Ben has. I know that the trick now will be all about finding the right medication and the right dosage.

I get it... I am not in control. I can fix a problem when it comes along, but I can't keep the next one from coming. It's hard... knowing that I will witness more seizures in my child, hoping that he will be able to start breathing again when the seizure stops, hoping that the seizure doesn't last too long, hoping that he will be able to look me in the eyes afterward so that I know that he's going to be okay... doing all of this in those 2 minutes it takes for his brain to shut down his body... hoping all of these things while I helplessly watch him... Ahhhhh... We have done all we can... the rest isn't up to us... I get it...

(Thanks for listening...) And thank you to all of you who have been there WITH us through this... you give us strength and love - 2 things that we can always use more of but are never in short supply of around here!!!

Making Mom blush...

As we were grocery shopping this morning, I picked up some single serving pasta and meatballs meals for the kids to have for lunch... I ususally try to keep lunch on Mondays as easy as possible! They wanted to hold them as we continued shopping... so we get to about the third aisle and they start holding their meals above their heads screaming "YAY!!!!" They apparently were very excited! They continued this for a while... I tried to convince them to whisper but they were not having any of that... they were so embarrassing!!! They are getting very good at making Mommy blush in public! Seriously... Here they are enjoying the meal...

What day is it???

I am having a hard time remembering that today is actually Sunday! Our weekend started on Thursday night driving to Conrad to take part in the city garage sale... we actually made some money! Anyway, we got back last night and since Nick had taken Friday and Saturday off work, he has to work today... so it seems like a Monday here today... Boo... I don't think the boys are appreciating the fact that we have a Sunday withought Daddy! (I know I'm not!) We did have a very fun weekend. It's always nice to go to grandparents' house and get a little break!

Had to share this... we had hamburgers for dinner Friday night and Ben grabbed my hamburger from me and was chowing down on it... Not sure what got into him! He really liked it though and I think he felt like a big boy eating the big hamburger and not just his own chicken nuggets!



We of course had to keep the children entertained while the garage sale was going on... a bit hard at first since it was raining, but when it cleared up, they were able to spend the rest of the day outside! Not sure if you can tell or not but the boys' jeans are completely covered in grass stains, dirt, mud, and they are soaked from running in the wet grass! And it was only about 9am when we snapped this picture of Ben, Conner, and their cousin Jennifer! The boys were exhausted last night!


We had a great weekend and we have made it through most of today... so far...!

Problem Solving... kinda...

While outside today, Ben and Conner were having some trouble... everytime their ball went down by the fence they didn't know how to get it! There is a little decline as you get closer to the fence and I could tell that they were both thinking of how much they did NOT want to fall into the fence... so they both got down on their hands and knees and crawled backward down toward the fence! It was pretty funny considering they assumed this position way before they even got close to the fence! But in the end it worked and they were both happy with being able to get their ball back by themselves!



And then Conner decided that it was fun to go running down the little hill by our backdoor and try to stay on his feet... he succeeded a few times but mostly wiped out on the brick patio... he is a character!!! Scraped knees and all...

Looong Tuesday...

Ben was up by 6 this morning....


Conner soon followed of course...


After a busy morning, lunchtime provided some entertainment!!! Conner chose to have mac and cheese (which he would eat everyday if we let him!) so I usually put in some veggies and ham just to make it a more complete meal... For some reason today, Conner picked out the ham and began lining up the chunks of meat around the tray of his highchair...



While Conner was being silly, Ben was trying so hard not to fall asleep...



Of course when I took Ben up to his room for naptime he slept for about 20 minutes and then refused to stay in his room anymore. We spent some time outside this afternoon, but the boys were pretty naughty (I know... hard to believe) so it didn't last long. It's been one of those days where I cannot wait for Nick to walk in that door!!! I did learn something new today and that is that the potty seat fits right over Ben's head... it does not however come off as easily!

More "Boon"

Our Monday morning grocery trip began with the boys chanting "Boon" as soon as we got into HyVee... I made an executive decision and told them that they could have a balloon AFTER we were done shopping! (We call enough attention to ourselves without balloons...) So we got balloons when we were done and when we got home, all they wanted to do was play with their "boons!"

Do it yourself, Bro!

Ben pushed Conner in his car to the rear of the backyard and then ran away as quick as he could, leaving Con-man to fend for himself...!



Conner sat in his car for a few minutes and then got out to see what the deal was...



He finally concluded that if he wanted to get back to the patio, he would have to push his car himself...



too funny!

Outside again!

We started with a trip to Menards and haircuts for the boys... now they look older again! (not sure if I like that) It is such a great day to get some more stuff done outside especially with Nick home! The boys tried out some squirt guns today!



Then Ben thought the garage needed some raking...



While at Menards this morning we, of course, bought a few things that weren't on the list... Nick was thrilled to find this "Bumblebee" kite...





Now we are trying to replenish the boys' fluids and get them to calm down a little from being outside... Nick is still out doing some yardwork so Ben and Conner are having a hard time coping with the fact that Dad still gets to be outside and they don't... I bet they get over it though...!

"Boon" (Balloon)

After an exciting morning of chasing balloons around the house (long story, but at HyVee yesterday, the boys conned the floral ladies into giving them balloons!) we got outside this afternoon and enjoyed the sunshine. Ben and Conner are definitely outside boys... they did have to take their balloons outside and I gave in because I was so tired of hearing "boon, boon, boooon!" As I expected, one ballon was lost to the wind and one popped when Ben fell on it... they took it pretty well. Conner sat at the fence for a while moaning "booooon" but he got over it! They wanted to wear their sunglasses today but only on the tops of their heads like Mommy does!

Have a great Tuesday!

Fun Sunday!

We had a great weekend playing outside!!! Nick got a bunch of stuff done and the boys got to play! It was nice to feel the sunshine yesterday...

Ben ventures into the shed that Nick just cleaned out... yes... the same shed that I won't go near! (I have a fear of rodents hiding in the corners!)


Of course the cars had to be driven...

Conner is trying to decide whether he wants to fly his kite or play in the sandbox... tough decision...

We got to get our "tee ball" out and see how the boys liked it! They both had a lot of fun! Conner kinda chopped at the ball when he wasn't trying to golf with it!

Ben really got the hang of it pretty quickly!!

Hopefully we can get outside again today!

Ben!!!

Ben decided to join the club today and peed in his potty successfully! He was very happy with his sticker and candy so we'll see... Conner hasn't been going in the potty since Tuesday... I was hoping he would do it at least once every day or two but that has not been the case! The good news is that they are both willing to at least sit on the potties and try when I ask them to so I guess it could be worse! So now we have the first time out of the way for both boys... now I just have to figure out how to get them to keep doing it! I thought maybe Conner would get upset when Ben got his sticker and candy this morning, but he didn't seem to care at all... what a stinker! Ben was very happy with himself though and it was very cute to watch him get excited about flushing the toilet! He reminded me that it's, very often, the little things in life that make us the happiest...

Conner!!!

I am pleased to announce that as of 4pm this afternoon, my son Conner successfully peed in the potty for the first time ever!!!! He started to whimper a little as he was doing it because I think he was afraid he was doing something wrong... but I quickly assured him that he was absolutely doing the right thing! Don't worry... I am under no illusions that it will be easy from here on out... I know that we still have a looooooonnnnng way to go! But man it feels great... Ben is still not sure about the whole process so we will see how long it takes him to catch onto the candy and sticker bribes that I am prepared to offer him! It has turned out to be a great day... who knew I would be so excited?!

Potty Training... Boo...

Well I have decided that I officially hate potty training. Our intention was to start potty training weeks ago, but with some of Ben's new meds and their side effects we decided to wait a while. So yesterday was really the first day that I made them sit on their potties a few times. They were definitely willing to sit on them but that was as far as we got. Last night, right before heading upstairs for baths before bedtime, we tried one more time... no success. So the boys scrambled into the bathroom (bathtime is very exciting at our house) and I got them into the tub... just in time for them to BOTH pee right in the bath water... they literally stood up, looked at me, and proceeded to pee... sometimes I feel as though they are taunting me...

Happy Easter!

We had a great Easter! Nick and I got to enjoy a Saturday night at home together and then we went to Grandma and Grandpa's on Sunday. The boys worked on blowing bubbles... Conner just wanted to stick the whole bubble wand in his mouth, but Ben did a good job of blowing the bubbles!



Jennifer (our niece) brought her kite along and she was nice enough to share so both of the boys got a turn at holding the kite string... the boys did let go of it a couple times, but thanks to my sister-in-law, it never flew too far away from us. And only once did Grandpa have to get the ladder out to get it out of the ONE tree in their backyard!!


Ben, Jennifer, and Bill watched as Ben held onto the string and then Daddy helped Conner when it was his turn to try...

When we got home last night, the boys got more Easter goodies before it was time to head off to bed...

Happy Easter, everyone!

Sunshine!

It was such a nice day yesterday! After resolving the "door issue," running errands, doctor appointment for Ben, and naptime, we got to go outside and enjoy the sunshine!!! Nick thought he would introduce the boys to flying a kite... Ben was much more interested than Conner, but Ben got quite upset a couple times when he got the kite string wrapped around his feet!





After deciding that there wasn't nearly enough wind and Nick wasn't going to run as fast as he could around the backyard to make the kite fly (my suggestion) the boys decided to move on to the sand box...

In the spirit of Nick having to remove the the door from the boys' room, he thought they should have a drill of their own so here they are learning how it works...

We had a great day!!! Hope you all were able to enjoy some of the sunshine!