Oh no... are you kidding me?!

Maren has got chicken pox.

I thought I was on a vacation?!

Appearantly she could have gotten them from someone 11-20 days ago, which means she could have gotten it the day before we flew out here from someone at Preschool or Ballet. There's no telling who she got it from.

But she would only have been contagious herself for a few days before her symptoms manifested, so she's not inflicting the masses luckily with our inability to really go anywhere.

I dread the thought of Kellan getting them. He is so whiney right now anyway! And there is no 'talking him through' anything, he is having a hard time listening to regular instructions.

And ohhhhh poor Max if he gets them too. He's so tiny, how awful to be so miserable being so fresh and new!

But I guess I shouldn't count my chicken pox before they hatch, har har har. We'll see how this next week goes. Please wish me well!

I've realized something

Max has really given me great reminders to enjoy my children more than I take the time to. I thought once a few weeks ago about people my children love seeing, and I felt bad about msyelf, like they didn't feel enough affection from me. But when I actually watched some of these people care for my children after the new baby was born, I realized that I am much more affectionate with them and that I do enjoy my children more than I realized.

With the first baby, we were so excited and consumed with all the milestones, that it really did make it feel like she grew up too fast. Because we looked forward, instead of present, to all the moments with her.

With my second, I was literally just trying to survive. Maren was 15 months old when Kellan was born. And she dispised him. James starting his therapy practice in our home, so I had to keep a pristinely clean home, AND take the babies away every day for several hours while he had his clients visiting. It was a headache. And then speaking of nerve pain, I had a stroke-like shutdown of my nervous system because my brainstem was impinged when Kellan was only a year old. It was a rough time in our life.

But Max has given me great contrast to remind me how fleeting moments are with each child. I have quiet moments to enjoy the new things Max is doing. So I'm not rushing him, and I'm not too busy to notice these things either like with the first two. And it has helped me be aware of each phase and ability they all are at in their lives.

Maren isn't going to be a toddler much longer. In two months she'll be 5. That's a young girl! It's surreal to me. She's an old soul in a little body, I like to say. She is sensetive, loving, artistic, expressive, and spiritual.

Kellan's voice seems so tiny lately. He's 3 1/2, and I realize better that he isn't capable enough of understanding things I have expected him to because he still is very young. I have tried to be more nurturing to him during different moments. He is strong, and defensive, and compassionate, and observant, and confident. He's the perfect recipe for a great big brother.

Even though I say how naughty my kids are, I realize how normal they are considering all the transitions they are going through with a new sibling, new school, and an extended vacation away from their home and friends. I just need to be more patient with them.

I realize now why Heavenly Father gives us opportunity to nurture his precious spirits. He doesn't send us children because they need someone to care for them. He sends us children because we need to learn things about ourselves to help us along in our progression in this mortal probation.

In my life, I have prayed for a softer heart, for patience, to be an example, to be a missionary of his gospel, for understanding of his mysteries, for a testimony of his love for me. I have prayed for wisdom, for courage, for direction, peace in my heart, and purpose with my abilities.

It was said once that God doesn't answer prayers, he sends people in our lives to answer them. He sent me Maren, Kellan, and Max. And through them, all the things I have prayed for in my life are being taught to me and manifesting in my character.

I am truly greatful.

A little randomness for you

We're enjoying ourselves in Utah, although we are homesick. A week is probably enough time, but we have longer, so we can pace ourselves and not pack as much into that week seeing and doing all that we want to do. Kellan asked today if we can go back to 'our neighborhood' and Maren wants to get back to her dress up things. I miss a spring-coiled bed, airbeds and I do not get along. And Max, eh, he's fine with whatever as long as he has milk!

I'm sure James is enjoying an early bedtime, and freedom to watch Bond movies with no complaints from me.

Here's a few of the things I've enjoyed this week

My brother Josh snuggled with Max practically the entire day, a little baby hungry? They took a cozy looking nap together.

"A Journey to the Center of the Earth" was pretty fun to watch in 3-D with my mom and oldest sister Gina

And Maren has been so super helpful, asking every day to "Dishwash." Um, heck yes! (As the Utahn's would say.)

,

Vay-cay

I'm in Utah! But not in the most ideal of ways to plan a vacation, that's for sure!

Long story short... my house had a little flood- James ripped it to shreds pulling out all of the flooring, and when I come home it will be practically entirely remodeled!

Here's what's going to be new:
New flooring in both of the bathrooms, and the kitchen/dining. We're upgrading it from linoleum and paying for ceramic tiling!

New carpet in the livingroom, hallway, and all 3 bedrooms.

New vanity and sink, paint, baseboards in the hall bathroom. We're upgrading to replace the window frame to match.

New vanity in the master bathroom. We're upgrading for the solid surface countertop sinks.

New paint job in the Master bedroom too, since they had to cut a hole in my wall to dry out the walls!!

And just for good measure, James and Jeremy are painting the kitchen cupboards... finally! It was a project we started months ago, and never finished. (Thanks both J's!)

I can't wait to see my house! But because of all the demolition dust and debris from James tearing everything out, and Max only 5 weeks old, we needed to relocate. It's going to take a while to get finished, and living in a hotel with toddlers just seems impossible... I tried that one 2 years ago when we moved to NC, no thanks! So we left last minute to stay with my mom in Utah.

We'll stay until my floors are back in, and furniture is put back so that the house is functional again... that's about 3 weeks. Please don't forget about me NC :*(

After a hectic day of no sleep the night before, connection flights, and all the drama of traveling, we made it. I paid for a rental minivan to pick us all up, driven by my sister. I have now decided I am sooo over the Honda Odyssy's. I want an '09 Toyota Sienna please!

Say what?

Right before Max was born, I bought a program called "Dunstan Baby Language" that is based on a world wide study of newborns, and the sounds that they all make around the world.

There are five sounds they all make starting at birth, no matter what language the birth parents speak. It's because of a reflex in the baby that causes them to make a sound when they make noise as they are crying or reacting to a need.

Like a hiccup... they all sound the same, right? Or a sneeze. It's a reflex, and the baby makes noises along with it, occuring with the same sound.

So I had James sit down and watch it with me the week after Max was born, so that he could feel more confident in taking care of the baby's needs.

Yesterday we're getting ready for church, and Max was upset. James was taking care of him so I could finish getting ready... and he remembered the sounds that we learned, so he listened.

He said "It sounds like he's saying 'eh, eh.' What was that? To be burped?" So he put Max on his shoulder, patted and rocked him for a few minutes. He didn't stop after just a couple pats and give up saying "well, he didn't burp." He rubbed him for a few minutes. And lo and behold, a big ol' burp finally came out, and Max settled right down and fell asleep!

It was so nice not to hear James say "I don't know what is wrong, he's not calming down." James DID know what was wrong, even though 95% of the time he isn't here taking care of Max. Now thinking back on how difficult of a baby that Maren was, and the endless hours that we tried burping or rocking or nursing, I wonder what she was saying all along? It probably wasn't one of the 5 sounds though- it was probably an ornry "Reeeaaar" instead!

Watch this video, it's so awesome! First time moms, or multiple time around like me, it's so helpful, I love it!

I voted!

I thought about posting a picture of my own sticker on my shirt, but you might have thought I was blogging about my boobs instead. ;-P

Voting seems a bit like putting my name into a lottery drawing. I'll likely stay up late tonight, and make some pop corn like I have the past 2 other presidential elections. Even though the person's name I wrote in won't be announced as our new president, I'm still wanting to know who will be.

But because I wrote in a candidate I felt was a better option, (No, James, I didn't write your name in) it got me thinking about lottery drawings. I know the person isn't going to win- much like how I feel when I enter my name for a new Honda Odyssy every month online!

But instead, atleast the odds are much better than 1:10,000,000,000

Last week was craaaaazy!

In addition to adjusting to life with a newborn baby again, it was packed full of activities. It was the last stretch of my mom's visit from Utah, so 'Grammommy' and I took the kids to Monkey Joe's for some play time- trying to avoid naughty time from them!

We also took them to a place in South Carolina where you paint your own pottery. All 3 kids captured either a footprint or handprint on a piece we painted together, it was nice to create memories, but not nice with the meltdown from Kellan in the middle of it all.

There were also a lot of Halloween activities. Maren dressed up as Hannah Montana for the activity at church, and again at preschool. (Kellan was sick for his day at preschool.) By the time trick-or-treating rolled around, she decided she wanted to be something different, so we had Snow White as the Queen, with Kung-fu Master champion. (Yes that's Max wrapped up in the polka-dot wrap, lots of people didn't realize there was a baby in that bump!)

For only 30 minutes or so of trick-or-treating, they made out like fat cats. Their buckets were full, and we proceeded back to Kate & Jeremy's home to fill our tummies with yummy fall favorites and goodies.

We tried to stay low key during the week due to both kids having their turn at being sick. So one of the days we adorned ourselves in halloween tatoo's. Yes, even Max got inked. It was a green spider, hehe.

Saturday the kids and I made the treck up to the airport for the last time in a while to see my mom off to Utah. We were sad to see her go, sad to have our house empty from company, and I'm feelin' it most of all because I'm flying solo for the first time since the baby was born 4 weeks ago! Wish me luck.