24 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 3

I'm thankful for my husband who let me sleep in this morning because Owen was up and down most of the night.  Usually I get up and make his breakfast and lunch and see him off with a kiss.  After last night, he suggested I stay in bed.  Sleepless nights are difficult, but its mornings like those, and that graciousness displayed, that makes those mornings a bit easier to swallow.

It's been 7 years since Troy first said "I love you" to me and since then, we have experienced what love truly means.  I am so thankful for our marriage in which I can honestly say I enjoy.  I am more in love with this man than I was 7 years ago.  He is hard working, patient, gracious, funny, creative, tenderhearted, and, on top of all that, an amazing father.  I am thankful for the man God has molded him into.  Thank you, God, for this precious gift of a husband you have given me!

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 2

 Photo Credit: http://www.therunningshoesguide.com/have-wide-feet-choose-the-perfect-pair-of-wide-width-running-shoes

I am thankful for the ability to be active.  Six months ago, I was on bed rest.  I was "sitting on my nest" for a very long 5 1/2 weeks because little Owen wanted to come too early.  (Side note:  it was certainly worth it.)  Around the first of April, I got the news that I needed to be on "complete bed rest," due to regular contractions at 31 weeks.  This meant I could do N-O-T-H-I-N-G but get up to go to the restroom, and I had to take a special pill to stop the contractions every time they came.  It was so hard to just sit there when my kids were wanting me to be up and play with them.    I could literally feel my muscles turn to Jello.  I vowed that when I was able, I would get active again.  I started working out 6 weeks after my c-section and now I workout 6 days a week.  I can pick up my kids, even two of them at a time, with no problem at all.  I can run up stairs and not get winded.  I can lift weights!  With all that said, it feels so good to be active again.  I know God didn't create us to be sedentary creatures.  I am so very thankful that He has given be the ability and the strength to be active and healthy at this point in my life!

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 1

It is really hard to start out twenty four days of Thanksgiving.  I mean, I do have a lot to be thankful for, but deciding on what to write about first isn't easy.  The first thing that comes to mind today is my children.  I have to be honest.  This morning started out pretty rocky for them.  For the most part, they slept in, which was a direct result of last night's Reformation Night Event that Troy and I put on at church.  They had so much fun and were out late (due to cleaning up after the event), that despite the efforts of two exhausted parents, they got to bed around 11pm last night.  This morning, the candy won at last night's event was on the kitchen table.  In hindsight, I should have put that away before they got up.  So much for hindsight.  Also on the kitchen table was their breakfast.  I requested that they eat their breakfast before eating any treat.  Normally, I wait until after lunch for all things sugar, but, I thought I would make an exception today.  I left the room for a minute to check on Owen and before I knew it, Jackson and Madelyn both had Tootsie Roll Pops in their mouths and their breakfast still on their plates.  I proceeded to take the suckers away, which was followed by a tantrum from Madelyn and a request by Jackson to go to his room.  Yes.  You read that right.  He asked to be sent to his room.  I had to nurse Owen, so, Madelyn went on crying and Jackson was sent to his room.  Breakfast is still on the table.  And, the candy is now hidden---probably won't reappear for quite some time.

It is a morning like this that I need to remind myself how much these children mean to me.  God has blessed me with them and given me the responsibility to raise them up in a way that glorifies Him.      I am very thankful for that opportunity.  As Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."  I am so very thankful that God has given me these three precious creations of His.  And it is with that thankful heart that I am reminded that I need to give these children grace, just as Christ has given me grace.  As it says in Ephesians 4:32, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."  This doesn't always come easy on mornings like these.  However, when I think of Christ forgiving me, and all the silly, stupid things that I may do, and how He constantly shows me His grace and mercy, it does come a bit easier.  I pray for patience in dealing with these kids that I love so much.  I know that it is primarily by example that they will learn what grace is.

And with that, I am so very thankful for all the little things that they do to bring joy to my heart.  I'm thankful for the witty and insightful view Jackson gives me on the world.  I'm thankful that, even at just barely four years old, he shows an interest in Christ.  I'm thankful for Madelyn's spunky personality, and the silly smile she gives me when she is pleased with something.  I'm thankful that she is so very loyal to her siblings---the love and adoration she shows for Jackson is pretty priceless.  I'm thankful for Owen's sweet and happy spirit.  No matter how tired or hungry he may be, he always has a smile to give.  I marvel at these precious gifts God has given me!  I pray that I remember how thankful I am for these children no matter the occasion---when Madelyn puts crayons in her pajama feet and they are melted all over several loads of clothes in the dryer---when Jackson refuses to eat his breakfast, lunch, or dinner (that happens often)--- or when Owen is wide awake at 11...1...3...5...  You get the idea!

Twenty Four Days of Thanksgiving

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Psalm 100:4

As you know, Thanksgiving is on November 24th this year.  My goal is to record what I am most thankful for (in no particular order) everyday until Thanksgiving.  So here goes day 1...

Owen is 5 Months!

As Owen interacts more with Jackson and Madelyn, I enjoy seeing the dynamics of our three-kid family grow!  He loves to be in the mix of things, whether its in his jump-a-roo watching his brother and sister play, on the floor, rolling around with his siblings, or listening to a bedtime story with Jackson and Madelyn.  I believe Jackson has made Owen laugh more than anyone and Jackson offers to "watch" his brother on a regular basis.  This, of course, just consists of him sitting next to him while Owen plays with a toy.  Nevertheless, it's cute!  Madelyn always says, "Hi, Owen!" whenever she sees him and then proceeds to talk to him.  I'm not sure what she says, but it sure makes Owen smile!
It's been a while since I blogged about Owen, so here's a quick update to get you up to date: 
-He started rolling over from front to back a little over a month ago. 
-Just like his brother, he loves standing up.
-He now weighs a little over 14lbs.
-When I put him on his stomach, he tries to be very moblie, almost doing an army crawl.  He can get his butt up in the air, and he can lift his head, shoulders, and tummy up in the air, just not at the same time.
-Owen loves to hold onto something while going to sleep.  So far, he loves the Teddy bear that his Aunt Jenni gave him.
-He loves his jump-a-roo.  He just sits, there and plays.  He doesn't jump.  He actually is just content to watch what is going on in the world around him.

-Per his pediatrician's instructions to he would sleep better, we started Owen on cereal.  He now gets a healthy helping of oatmeal, applesauce, probiotics, and flax-seed meal at night.  Now to add the other meals!  (By the way, it didn't help...he still wakes up every couple hours.  We have to work on that!) 

-Owen sat up very briefly yesterday on his own, just long enough for me to snap a photo! (Pictured below)

-At two months, Owen was diagnosed with Infant Acid Reflux and given Zantac to treat it.  I have since discovered that this effected his digestive system, as his diapers were far from normal.  Per his pediatrician's instructions, we weaned him off the Zantac.  We then started giving him probiotics to see if that would help.  He seemed to be doing okay, but recently has started to violently gag again at night.  Hence, one of the reasons why he is waking up so much.  And so the sleepless saga continues!

-During the day, Owen is an extremely happy baby.  He always smiles at anyone and everyone he looks at.  He has such a sweet and easy-going personality and its been such a joy to get to see it develop!
-This past week, Owen waved hello to our friend at church.  I couldn't believe it when she told me, but she got him to do it again!  And, then we told Troy and he did it again!
Here are some photos of the last couple months for your enjoyment!

 On his way to Oak Glen!

 In the jump-a-roo

 Big, strong boy sitting up on his own!

 Brothers and buddies!

 UP....

 UP....

 And...

 Over!

 Owen's first feeding of cereal.

 Lounging at the beach!

 One of his favorite pastimes...chew on his feet!

Wrestling with his daddy.  He had him pinned.

We truly thank God for this little gift to our family.  We enjoy this little one so much and look forward to seeing him grow even more.  I must say though, I see how fast this growing happens, and it churns up bittersweet feelings!

The Quotable Jackson

Referring to the lullaby, "Rock-a-bye Baby,"  Jackson said to me last night, "That song is weird.  Rocking in a chair is WAY better."  I would have to agree.

The Quotable Jackson

Jackson got sick the second night I was home from the hospital with Owen.  Poor kid.  He just kept throwing up.  He got so upset each time he threw up saying, "I don't like this!"  "This is not fun!"  Then, finally, he summed up the experience by declaring, "Even bad guys don't like to throw up!"  Well said, Jackson.  Well said!