The Lilacs are Back!

Our yard is filled with the heavenly smell of lilacs. I love the smell of lilacs and tomorrow will fill our house with them.
Just chillin on a hot day.

These 2 are always in motion

Enjoying the lilacs

I love the look on his little face here. He was watching Mason doing something.

Little farmer.

The weather has been perfect and we have been to the beach most days. I have forgotten my camera each time however. Next time.

Plants are coming back in our garden. It's so exciting to see plants come back that we planted from seed last year. We have some new plants to put in that we did with the milk gallon planting again. I can't wait to see what things look like. Maybe in a few years we'll have a pretty nice garden.

Potty Training

MX will stand for Maddox, MN for Mason, and M for me

MX: My diaper fell off!! I have to go potty!
M: Let's go in the bathroom (I put the potty training seat on the toilet) (his favorite place to go)
MX: I go in here?
M: yes
MX: playing with toilet paper holder and toilet paper
MX: I have a piece of gum?
M: Once you are done
MX: I want to go poop in my diaper.
M: Let's try on here ok?
MX: OK
MX:pulling tiolet paper off, peeing on the seat instead of in it, opening and shutting toilet paper holder, aiming high again
MX: I pee on my hands (with a smirk and gleam in his eyes...puts his hands in the toilet..didn't touch the water though)
M: No, that is not OK. we pee in the toilet
MX: putting his hands all over his seat and asking "here?, put my hands here?, here?" while smiling.
MX: Uh-oh! (he was aiming up while he peed)
MN:I have to pee!!!
M: Mx are you done?
MX: No, I still going. (again aiming high)
MN: I really have to pee!
M: Well, you can always go outside.
MN:I can hold it....for a little bit (leaves the bathroom)
MX: I done! climbs off toilet
MN: Can I go now?
MX: flushing toilet
MN: Don't flush! I have to go
M: It's OK. you can again flush after you go. (MN proceeds to take care of business)
MX: I have to poop!!!!!!!!!!! I have to poop!!!!!!!!! (running in circles without a diaper on)
M: OK, you can use the potty chair.
MX: I have a piece of gum?
M: yes, after you are done.
MN: Can I have a piece of gum?!
M: yes, you may have a piece of gum too.
MX: I have a tasty piece of gum? (he uses tasty for anything that is strong flavored that he doesn't like)
M: No, you don't have to have a tasty piece of gum
MX: I WANT A TASTY PIECES OF GUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
M: That is not how we ask for something. May I please have a tasty piece of gum?
MX: I don't want a tasty piece of gum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
M: taking slow deep breaths
MX: I done! Poop not come out.
M: Good job! That's OK, we'll try again later. You did a super job. Time to wash hands.
MX: NO!!! I NOT WANT TO WASH HANDS!!! NO!!! NO WASH HANDS!!!!! WAAAHHHHH, AAAAHHHHH, NO WASH!!!!!!
M: OK, we're done washing. Let's get that piece of gum.
MX: I want a tasty piece.

I don't know what to title this

Maddox: knocking on Mason's bedroom door.
Mason: I'm not in here Maddox.
Maddox: continuing to knock on Mason's door
Mason: Maddox. I'm not in here. I am downstairs in the toy room closet. If you want to see me, you have to go downstairs to the toyroom closet. I am not in my bedroom.
Maddox: OK!

Some of Maddox's favorite sayings "Oh Maaaaan" when told he can't do something. Growling when told he can't do something. "Don't say that Mama!" when told he can't do something.

Mason: Mom! Maddox is picking his nose, but he didn't learn that from me because I don't pick my nose anymore.

Mason: Mom! Maddox is in my room and he has a lot of green boogers coming out of his nose!

Mason: These choc chip cookies are even better than Nana's! (that is saying alot coming from Mason. He looooves Nana's cooking) (he is referrring to the gluten free vegan choc chip cookies we made)

Maddox: Mason wookin (looking) at me!! I don't wike dat!!

We were making cupcakes yesterday and some vanilla spilled on Maddox's hand. I told him just to lick it off (I thought it would taste good). It didn't taste good, then Craig reminded me the Vanilla extract was 17 proof alcohol. Oops. Thankfully it was just a little drip and he washed it down with a ton of water because it tasted so bad. Craig thought I was giving him a spoonful of it. Maddox didn't act any differently after the ingestion of the vanilla. whew.

Great Buys and Blizzards

Craig started his vacation today. That meant that I was able to go to rummage sales all-by-myself! It was heaven. I braved the snow and cold and wind and it paid off!

I was able to find a Step 2 rollercoaster ride for Maddox, that he LOVES and a Sit-n-Spin. I have been praying about what to do with this little guy and what to get for him to help him be entertained and not be bored, and I found 2 items today. He is so happy with these items!

I also found some Gi-Joe men, accessories and ATV for Mason. They weren't that cheap, but they look brand new and we are studying the military in school, so for the sake of homeschooling, I had to get them.

I won't go into all the gory details about every little find, but I did get a Gymboree sweater for Mason for Christmas for 1.00 and some Gymboree shorts for .50 each. Again, these looked brand new. I also found some brand new shoes and sandals for Maddox and a pair of new shoes for him to grow into,a Columbia snow suit for Maddox that is down filled for 10.00 (again like new) and a pair of Hannah Andersson pjs for myself for 1.00. I was able to get a lot of clothes for the boys and some other toys.

It felt good to be alone. I feel so much better than yesterday and just love being around my children. They are great boys and I do love them more than anything. We just had a very intense week with all the illness stuff. Off to get ready to visit my mother-in-law tomorrow. Stay warm!

I'll post pictures later of some of my great finds!

Hope Springs Eternal

These pictures are from yesterday. Some of my plants are coming back! I didn't think they would. I love this plant, but I forgot what it's called. It's very soft and slivery.
One of the daffodils bloomed near our driveway. A squirrel had transplanted a bunch of them in our backyard in various places, so I dug them up and moved them near our house. But they don't like it as much here. I don't think they get enough sun.
Cutting with scissors. I love how he opens his mouth so wide while trying to open the scissors.

You know it's a rough day when the garbage can looks like a good place to take a rest.

We've been seeing a lot of this face lately. I think I told him "no" about something.

Tree hugger.

I cannot keep this boy out of trees. He would climb all day and to the moon if he could.

It's hard to see, but he was aiming for a puddle and really concentrating and his little tongue is sticking out.

Love this little cherub.

We have been seeing this face on occasion.

I love watching these two from afar.

Going for a big splash.

Sweet little profile.

Splashing! I can't keep him out of water. I think he is part fish.

Mason made this obstacle course game for his remote army Humvee. We don't have any video game systems here, but he keeps making up his own with his toys. Sometimes he has sound effects like "beep, boop" when he collects a treasure or moves up to the next level.

He's Organic.

He had to eat lunch with this banana sticker on his head.

Silly Boy.

I
I hope we see more of this face again.

I love those little fingers.

He's napping now and Mason is working on an art project. Maddox fell asleep as soon as I finished his story. He is exhausted. I guess he was up 3 more times than I thought last night. I went to bed early, so Craig helped Maddox out. I wish we could figure out what is going on with his sleep issues. It's maddening. We had a month a ways back where he was taking 2-3 hour naps and sleeping from 7:30-7:00 straight through the night. This household was a different house. I was a different person. Maddox was a different little boy.

I've remained pretty calm today, however I must confess I chucked a loaf of bread into the pantry. Not a good move. It got all smushed. The kids didn't see it though. Well, that's all I have for today.

Even while dealing with all of this, I would love another child. A dear friend of mine just had her baby and I have baby fever. I love looking at his pictures and reading about what they are up to. I know my body can't handle another pregnancy though, so it's not going to happen. But I would love to have another little bundle in my arms.

help

Our little guy is still miserable. His fever is gone, but he has this nasty stuff coming out of his nose. I am amazed how that little head and nose of his can hold so much stuff.

Mason ended up getting 2 nebs yesterday and I have a sore throat. Nothing major going on around here, but I am ready for a healthy family.

Maddox has been so clingy and melting down at the littelest thing. He is getting up at 1:30am and 3:30am just wanting a drink or to be held. Whatever I make for breakfast, snack, or lunch turns into a scream and cry fest. Just now he was screaming and crying because he didn't like what I had for snack, didn't like the bowl I used and was upset that his crackers didn't have sunbutter on them and was upset because heidn't have a lot of crackers. I compromised and put sunbutter on his crackers, which ended up in even more screaming and crying that was even louder.

I can't leave the room without him screaming my name needing to know exactly where I am. When I am in the bathroom he stands outside the bathroom door screaming and crying for me. Whenever I am doing anything, he just clings onto my leg screaming and crying. It has been like this for almost a week. And I know he is miserable and not feeling well. He isn't just doing this to bug me or upset me. I do know this. And at the same time, I haven't had a break from it at all, except for an hour or 2 when I ran some errands alone. And that was at night. I wish I could bring him to a friend's house, but it's too hard with all his allergies and because he breaks out if he even comes into some residue of something he is allergic to.

Ugh. I am tired and crabby and want some time to myself. Some quiet time. He decided to eat his snack now. I think part of the food thing is just a power struggle. He wants to eat when he decides and whatever he wants to eat. I am too tired to think straight about it though and figure out what to do.

And I know I am not unique in this. Every mom out there goes through this, but I am so frustrated right now. I figured if I put it on here and got it out, I would be able to get through the day calmly. And we do have some fun moments. Yesterday we went out after the rain and had fun outside (I'll post pictures later) and this morning we did have a good time at the table cutting and coloring and gluing for about a half hour.

I am feeling better now. What do you moms do when you are in situations like this?

Sunshine

I couldn't stand being cooped up in the house any more, so I took the boys to Hartley to walk around a little in the woods and hang out at the pond. I am so glad I did!!!! Maddox was doing better after his ibuprofen and I initially was going to take them to the park near our home, but there were a lot of children there and his nose was running with some pretty gross stuff, so I decided to hide out in the woods instead.

It was perfect. The weather was perfect and the boys had fun. We hadn't been on a hike in almost a week. We found some sort of larva in the creek, looked for tadpoles and frogs (we didn't find any), threw rocks and sticks in the water, had a snack, and Mason and Maddox climbed this incredible tree that is just perfect for climbing. All with the sun shining. I think it was good for Maddox too. His nose ran a lot, but he had pretty good energy and really enjoyed the walk. His fever hasn't come back yet; I am hoping it stays away.

Both of the boys are going to need to detox from t.v. though. Holy Cow.

Mason and I did school today and it was pretty lame, but he got done what needed to be done, so that's what counts at this point. ugh. I hope we get some sleep tonight. We are studying the military and obedience and Mason was pretty irked about how a person has to obey so well when they are in the military. He's pretty excited about this unit though, especially about the vehicles involved in the military. I wish I would have started a little later though, so it would be a good tie-in for Memorial Day. Oh well.

Well, so far today, we are doing OK. I am fighting the urge to lay down and sleep. I have a lot of catching up to do regarding housework. I hope Maddox continues to improve and has longer stretches in between the fever and that he is done with this soon. We are going to have a lot of re-training to do once he is feeling better.

Ramblings

Maddox still has a fever. The doctor feels it's just a virus. I wish there was medication to take for viruses. He did have his longest stretch without a fever last night though. He had ibuprofen at 5:00pm and didn't need anymore until 8:00 this morning. However, he was up at least 4-5 times last night (I can't keep track anymore). He is so thirsty at night. Right now he is just sitting on the couch feeling miserable.

Thank goodness Mason was moved into his room when he was. He has been able to sleep through all of this at night and sleep in. Yesterday Maddox was having a hard time napping, so I brought him into our bed and laid down with him.. We slept from 2:00 until almost 5!! whoops.

Mason was able to watch Kung Fu Panda twice yesterday because of that, so he was happy.

Today is a beautiful day outside, but I don't think I can bring the boys anywhere. Maddox gets so tired so easily right now. sigh. I feel like we are back in his newborn days again before we knew about the allergies. I could cry at night each time he wakes up.. because I feel so bad for him and because I am so tired.

I am going to be loading him up with vitamins. The Dr did say that Vitamin C and zinc are good for fighting viruses and I know vitamin D is as well. I really hope he can get through this soon. I miss our little pistol and I know he and Mason are going stir crazy. I wonder how much tv they can watch before their brains turn to mush?

This is a rambling post. Just goes to show how my brain is working these days...definitely not on full power :)

Little Man

Our little man has been down. Today he started feeling a little better, but he has been dealing with a high fever off and on since late Thursday night. It's been awful. As soon as the ibuprofen wears off his fever spikes again. When it does, he says "I'm sleepy momma." and he starts to shiver. When the fever hits at night, he has a quiet weeping he does. It's been sad to see. He hasn't been able to sleep at night or nap well or eat much. I will bring him in to the Dr. tomorrow, although he has been fever free for 8 hours now
(his longest stretch).

I hope he is able to sleep tonight. I am soooo tired. He has been in my arms all day for almost 3 days straight. My parents came over this afternoon and stayed for supper and that helped a lot.

Tonight he was up until 10:30 pm crying for us and when we would go up, he would stop and talk and laugh and sing. Frustrating.

It has been a long 3 days, and the boys have watched waaay too much t.v., but I hope to be able to get them out again this week.

Here he is feeling a little better. Our little Spanky.

This was during a fever spike. He sat on the couch for 2 days. That's so unlike him. It's been nice to see a little of our firecracker back.


Having a popsicle to cool down.

Enjoying Lawerence Welk with his popsicle.

A snuggle with his Nana. This is a rare event, especially when Pop is over too.

Well, off to bed. I am hoping and praying that Maddox is able to sleep and feels better tomorrow.