Worry

Last night I was awake from 2-4am. I hate being awake in the night-especially during busy weeks like this one. AND it's the 3rd night in a row, on top of several previous nights of little sleep from being up for sickies. Anyway, that wasn't the point of this blog. The point was, while I've been awake I've had a lot of time to think. Now, I wouldn't say I'm a "worry-wort" or anything like that...but I do have my moments. Last night:...about the bridal shower I have coming up (I always stress about these things, and after they are done I always wonder why! Specifically this time-that I'll get what my family has and not be able to do it!) About Kaden's appointment with the ENT Specialist today...and while thinking about that Kaden would cough and I'd be reminded that his fever was still going strong and his Pediatrician told me if it went 48 more hours we needed to do more testing (we are now down to 6 hours...it's not looking hopeful!) and I just started to worry. I thought about the what-ifs. What if they want to do surgery right away... what if they can't do surgery til he's well (HE'S NEVER WELL!)...what if's about surgery...And then I would stop myself. I'd start praying (if you've been in contact with me within the last 6 months in anyway there's a good chance you got prayed for!) And it's kinda neat, God's brought several songs to my mind that I didn't even know I knew the words to! But all of that reminded me of one thing...

Matthew 6:25-34. Specifically vs 27 and 34 which read "Who of you by worry can add a single hour to his life?.....But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness..."
So many times we are told don't worry. It's wrong to worry. Just stop worrying. But how? By seeking Christ. It works. I'm here to tell you! And it's amazing how it doesn't just stop the worry...it reaps many more blessings and answered prayers. Because instead of wasting time worrying you are praying-thus having prayers to be answered! Or you're singing...and God gets to pop that song in your head that you never thought you knew (it's a blessing!) It's just so cool. The annoying thing is that the devil doesn't stop giving you something to worry about...so it's a constant battle.
This has been my constant challenge for about a year. When the gallbladder pain started and it felt like I was going to die-and no answers! Then surgery! Then tests on my heart and brain, then a lump removed-where we hoped it wasn't cancer and worried that it was. When Kate was tested for a problem with her bladder-which they had expected since I was 20 weeks pregnant. And now with all this sickness and facing yet another surgery-this time for Kaden and his tonsils. It's minor. But I tend to worry. He's my little boy-it's so hard not to! But I keep going back to these verses...

sick sick sick

My family is sick. It's so sad to see them all so sick and feverish. On top of that it's been a super busy weekend and week. I don't even feel like I can properly spoil them AND I'm super afraid I'm going to get it. Fortunately- after both Luke and Kaden being tested today- we know it is NOT strep or influenza. Just a good 'ole kickin' butt sort of a virus.

Good news: we have an appointment set up with the Ear Nose and Throat doctor for Kaden's tonsils. It's this Wednesday (as if we needed to add more to the week!!!) The longer it goes that Kaden is sick ALL THE TIME, the more comfortable I get with the idea of him having surgery. I just hate seeing my little boy so miserable. I'm ready to be done with antibiotics for the poor kid!

Here's what the week looks like:
Sunday:
Sunday School
Pass out nursery schedules
Deliver some PC orders
Bev and Adam leave
Dave Ramsey course at 6

Monday:
Laundry, deliver some Pampered Chef orders,pay bills due by the 15th, and clean the house for cooking club
Luke Dr appt at 1
Kaden dr. appt at 2 (lasted an HOUR!!!)
Book study at 4:30 (thankfully, it cancelled!)
Cooking club at 6-9ish

Tuesday:
clean the house again for cooking club, finish laundry,
make some meals for Luke to have while I'm gone
do Dave Ramsey homework (we won't even TRY to keep up with the Beth Moore...)
Cooking club at 6
Bible Study at 7 (which I will miss)

Wednesday:
Clean up from cooking club,
Bake coffee cakes for MOPS
Test Bridal shower recipe
Answer a BUNCH of emails
Kaden ENT Appt 2:15
Pack Pampered Chef items for Bridal Shower
Pack Kaden, Kate, and me for trip to MT

Thursday
Deposit Cooking club checks
MOPS (my group responsible for food)
leave right after for MT

Friday-
Prepare for bridal shower (takes more than you might expect!)

Saturday-
make food for bridal shower

Sunday
Bridal shower

THEN, and only then, I can get sick, still preferrably never. I'm tired. Exhausted really. I'm heading to bed now.

I Hate Taxes

I thought taxes were worthy of a blog. A Hatred Blog. I don't care if I'm getting money back. I still hate them. I will always hate taxes. You can't change that so don't try. Yes, even if I got a million bucks back. I would hate them. See what I mean? DON'T TRY.

I wish there was the opposite of a "heart" to stand for "hate" but I know it wouldn't do it justic.

Today I've spent a literal 2 hours searching for my tax junk (aka documents) and finding my write-offs for Pampered Chef, Charitable giving (which, in and of itself just makes me cranky..not the giving-the fact that it's a tax write off...), medical bills, interest paid for my mortgage...etc.... You know...it's just stupid.

I HATE TAXES.

It's not even so much that I paid them in the first place. I guess I don't even mind that-it's a part of life...so deal. But, the concept behind those who make an honest living feeling like they have to search all around, make sure they get their write-offs, and "claim" what's "theirs"...GRRRRRR.

Not that I'm gonna let it stop me from getting as much as I can back. Oh no. I will play that game to the best of my ability. And hate every living second of it.

I'm done now. And I hope nobody actually made it to the end of this post. It wasn't worth reading.

A day in the life...

How did it become March already? And not just March, but almost the MIDDLE of March!?
Kaden has been on antibiotics since the first of the month. I took him in for a red eyeball (that looked like he'd poked it) and he came out with a double ear infection, meds for his eye, and a referral to the ENT doctors. I was happy. I had decided there was only 1 doctor in that office that I am willing to see-and I told them I would only take an appointment with him. I've never been pushy enough to do that before. Boy did it pay off!! The other doctors won't even talk about the poor kid's tonsils. The antibiotics haven't helped the tonsils at all (they are still "kissing" as the doctor called it.) But I think it must have helped his ears because he seems to feel better. I am excited to be moving forward in getting Kaden's tonsil problems figured out. But as the realization comes that he will have to have surgery it really makes me sad for him.
Katelyn is little miss toothless still. She attempts to get them-fever, crabbiness, swollen gums, diahrea and all...but she will NOT chew on things. I keep telling her that I'm pretty sure if she'd chew on something it'd help that tooth pop through. Even if I try to put my finger on her gums she will just get mad and scream at me. And yes, I've tried them all. The cold icy ones, the soft squishy ones, the food ones, all of it. I figure-she'll have teeth by kindergarten, so I won't worry about it now. Sure wish the fevers would stop though. They always make me nervous that they are more than teething...like the UTI's or something.
Today Kaden was on his play phone talking and I tried to ask him something and he said to me "Mom, not now, I'm on the phone with someone." So I asked him who and he said "It's daddy" and then went on to tell daddy that "Mommy says hi." and all about what he wanted for lunch. It was great!
Katelyn has some new words. Ok, so only 2. She says "bye bye" (SOMETIMES) mostly she just waves hi and bye. And she claps her hand and says "Paaaaa-b" for Pattycake. Now aren't those just the most useful words? Her favorite game is definitely pattycake! Kaden is now into Rock-a-bye-Baby...only because we drop him at the end I think.
Well-the baby's crying and that's all I can think of to update. I'll try to have more funny stories next time!

Bones for Breakfast

Every post of mine seems like it could be titled "another Kaden story"...just sayin'!

Today he was eating breakfast-toast, eggs, yogurt and banana (the boy can eat!) and Kaden says to me "I need more." I said, "Finish what you have!" and he says "It's all gone except the bones!"

It took me a minute. I was pretty sure he didn't have anything with bones. I realized then he was calling his crusts "bones" because we never make him eat the bones. He insisted...INSISTED...they were bones. And even after he ate them he told me "You maked me eat bones!" (I am pretty sure he's going to tell his Daddy on me.)

Another Kaden story...

The other day I had to run to Walmart to grab a card real quick. Of course, with kids I still had to grab a cart. We went in, got the card, paid and were out in a matter of minutes (only since it was 8am)... I put Kate back in the car and left Kaden in the cart to return it to the cart return. When I pushed it in I did what every other Walmart cart returner does (keeping in mind, not all Walmart shoppers actually return their carts!) I slammed it into the other carts in a nice, but forceful way. Kaden looks up at me and goes "WHoa MOM! Watch where you're going!"

I felt like I had a teenager. REALLY, Kaden? THanks. My very next thought was, "If I ever get into an accident and he says that-heads could fly." Just sayin'.

I just have to say, for being at Walmart a whole 5 minutes it was memorable. Between Kaden's mouth and the phone calls I got. One was as I walked in-from the Walmart pharmacy. Now-how convnenient is that? Except I didn't want the meds. Of course, I'll never be in Walmart when I do want the meds and they call. Oh well.

Cheyenne & Denver

Early this month we headed down to Cheyenne, WY so Luke could attend the WES Conference for his engineering stuff. (Can you tell I know a lot about it?) We headed down on Thursday and did a little shopping and took the kids swimming. Both LOVED the pool. And Kate was so adorable in her little baby swimsuit. Want proof? Ok, fine, I'll put some pictures in (since you twisted my arm, and all.)Ok "some pictures" might have been an understatement. Sorry.





While Luke was at the conference on Friday, the kids and I did some shopping. It was a really windy, cold day and by about 2pm I was SO done. Thankfully, Luke decided to skip out on the last 45 mintues of the conference and we got to head to Denver (and Brent and Claire's) early. We got there in time to eat some dinner and then Luke and Brent headed to a Nuggets basketball game. While they were there we did our best to tire out our 2 year olds...here's a hint to what they did!




I think they ended up having a bath everyday we were there. It was a great entertainment when we adults were worn out! They went to bed VERY well for us that night.
Saturday we took the boys to the mall to wear themselves out in the indoor play area. That's where my finger decided to swell, itch, and totally take away from my day. I survived, but it sure was annoying. For the afternoon, Claire and I got to go shopping all by ourselves. It probably sounds more fun than it was, since neither of us felt like we had money to blow! It was nice to get away and I'm totally jealous that Claire has access to all those stores within 5 minutes notice. (Traffic depending-of course!)That evening we made the men put the boys to bed. Let's just say it didn't go so well for them. It makes a mom feel good...is that bad????
Sunday was the superbowl, snacks for the kids, more baths, and just hanging out and relaxing.

Oh yah. And church! Kate got compliments for how good of a baby she is in the church nursery. She's such a sweetie!
Here's a picture of the boys...as you might have noticed it was a little hard to get them still enough to get a good one. This was MAJOR success!

We got home Monday evening and we were all so tired that we put on Lady and the Tramp and had movie night til we were allowed to go to bed!
Thanks Brent, Claire, and Parker for letting us see your world!