The Ninth Month Checkup

The worst thing about being on bed rest is that it ate up all my days. In fact on my check stub it says "Sick Bank: -10.5" I still owe 10 days!! The worst part about this is not being able to take off for Noah's checkups. That is what a mommy is supposed to be able to do. Especially since he is in the "mommy stage" where he wants to be comforted by me and is happiest with me. Not that he doesn't love everyone else but at this particular time and probably a short time he loves me best. So he had his appointment today at 10:30 for his nine month checkup. I wrote Adam a list of questions which he relays to Dr. Petitt. I sat on edge until lunch at 12:35 when I could call Adam and get the facts. Noah's motor skills are great. There are a few language and comprehension things that he is a little behind on but he said not to worry until 12 months. Everything with the food is great. He said we have done a good job with his introduction to food. His eczema and asthma are being controlled well. He weighed in at 23.3 pounds and measured 30.3 inches. The bad news is that he has now outgrown the height limit on his carseat and we are in the market for new ones. Any suggestions???

The Tears

I have cried a lot this week. Out of joy, at the Olympics, and out of stress.
I spent some time watching the Olympics on TiVo mainly because Michael and Shawn and Nastia were on too late for the first weeks of school. I watched Michael win his 8 medals. I cheered for him teared up at his accomplishments. But I really let the tears flow when the camera would span the audience and settle on his mom. I know Michael worked hard to get those six world records. But so did his mom. Imagine all the car pooling to practices and meets while juggling a very successful teaching career and doing it all as a single mom. And there he was tossing her his roses after achieving his dream. (I'm crying again.) I can only imagine if that were Noah and all the emotions I'd be processing. Joy, Elation, Pride, Relief, Exhaustion. So congratulations to Michael and his mom! Don't even mention the commercial Morgan Freeman narrates about the injured runner and his dad! I have to change the channel.

Last night I was rocking Noah after finishing his night night bottle. We were staring at each other and I was telling him how I love him and how God loves him more and the things God has already done for him. Noah started touching my face and just laughing and laughing and laughing. I was overcome by love and joy over being a mother. Tears pouring down my face, I thanked God for my little miracle. Adam came to check on us, and was confused by the range of emotion he found us in.

Today I cried out of stress. The beginning of school is always stressful. And today was no exception. Those of you who know me well know that confrontation is not my forte. So teaching a diverse group of freshmen is a challenge. I find it stressful to balancing loving them, teaching them, filling out paperwork on them, evaluating them, and disciplining them. It was just a hard day. I was out of the building before four, I had just had my fill. I came home to find Charlie had chewed up a foam toy of Noah's and left little pieces everywhere! Add in hair and doctor's appointments and missing jewelry order and nothing planned for dinner and out came the tears. Then I remembered at 9:30 I promised Laura I would call her at six for a much needed catch up phone call. I'm a terrible friend! I hope she accepts this public apology. I know she understands stress.
Tears are not always bad. They can be very cleansing. They can express all kinds of emotion and I am thankful God gave me a way to express what an emotional person he made me to be!

The Nine Month Birthday

Infectious little laugh.
Innocent smile.
Happy big blue eyes.
Big bath splashes.
Outstretched little arms.
Tiny fingers wrapped around mine.
Excited squeals of joy.
Soft nuzzles and cuddles.
22 pounds of peaceful sleeping body weight on my shoulder.
Nine things I have come to know and now could not live without!

Nine months of falling in love with Noah and what God has done for Adam and I through our sweet blessing!

The Random Train of Thoughts

Noah playing hide and seek in my closet.

1. Why do babies have an obsession for cords??

2. Noah went back to the doctor and he has a sinus infection. Which is not contagious, good news to all of you we have in contact with lately. After several days of aches, congestion, sore throat and a low grade fever, I took a sick day and also went to the doctor, he said, "you have a red throat." I got a shot and two antibiotics. But no diagnosis. All I cared about were the drugs anyway.

3) The worst night of my red throat sickness was Wednesday night. Adam, the angel I am married to, put fed, bathed and put Noah down and then put me to be with plenty of fluid and medicine and then took Charlie to sleep in the guest room. I laid alone in bed and instead of resting, sobbed. I felt like a complete failure. I had run myself ragged, allowed stress to take control. And I had failed:
a) as a teacher by not having the next two weeks planned out like a planned to
b) God by not spending the forty minutes each morning in prayer
c) as a wife and mother by not giving my boys the attention the deserve, lets not even mention Charlie or other family and friends
d) and myself for not working out even five minutes this week and succumbing to the new temptation in the teacher's lounge the drink machine with SunKist.
I didn't just sit around and waste time. I got to school by 7:15 every morning and stayed until at least 5:15. And I was up till 11 pm or later and up by 5:45. I could not understand why I failed. Except that I am weak, a weak worthless woman who can't do more than one thing at a time. And life is doomed to be stressful and miserable forever. And then God spoke in my heart. Yes I am not built to be supermom. And yes some women are. I was created to be me. Yes stress and long hours had taken their toll by exhausting my body, mind and soul. And yes I should take better care of my self. But the reasons for my perceived failures were because I had tried to do it on my own. Without God. And while on my own I will never be able to cross 100 things of my to do list in an 18 hour day, I was created to do great things with God's help. And together we can prioritize, organize, plan and enjoy life!

3. The Shack is a great book. My mother bought me a copy a month or so ago and said nothing but, read it. Last night and today while resting and recovering from my red throat I read it. It is fantastic. And it spoke straight to my heart! I highly suggest it.

4. How many of you would rather see a day old Olympic gymnastic meet broadcast at seven than fall asleep trying to stay up to see it live?

5. Noah has a lot of hair. I think I am leaning towards getting his first haircut. What first haircut memories do you have to share? Tips or suggestions??

This video is of Noah playing in my closet. Who needs toys when you have skirts to hide in???

The First Week of School and the New Swing

Hey Summer where did you go??? Are you back there????

Well Noah and I are back in school. We are slowly adjusting to our old routine and desperately missing our time together. Noah felt it would be a good time to cut two of his upper teeth. So he has had a runny nose that is irritating his chest and giving him a low grade fever. He's been miserable. Poor baby! I've been super busy getting things rolling at school and the stress and exhaustion has taken my voice! But other than that things have gone okay. It should be an interesting semester. Keep my fourth block in your prayers. We finally hung up Noah's swing yesterday. Here are a few shots.



Yes that's the Christmas Tree. It was in the garage for several months, we missed the pick up. Now it is in the backyard. We don't know what to do with it. We plan to chop it up and bag it. When we get a spare moment. Better hold on. He does have Mr. Safety for his dad!

Wee!!

And then he was done. As indicated by falling asleep in the swing.

The Sick Policy

So Noah and I are supposed to start school tomorrow. The catch is the new daycare sick policy. Noah can not go with a runny nose. And what do you think he came down with on Thursday?? A yellow runny nose! I took him straight to Dr. Pettit. I was looking for a note to clear him for school. I didn't get that. But the good news is the doctor said was that his lungs are clear and he doesn't expect any asthma complications. Which I am thankful but still seriously bummed that on the first day back we have to figure out alternate child care plans. Noah was so healthy all summer. What timing. So tomorrow Adam is going to switch his Friday day off to be with him. But after that we don't know. We were hoping to save sick days for a possible flu outbreak or stomach bugs. We don't want to use them for a runny nose that Dr. Pettit said could last 7-14 days!! So Noah and I are home from church today praying for clear snot :)