A week in the life

It has been such a crazy week (but what week isn't in this house?). Monday started with all of us being a bit under the weather. Nothing big, just a bit of coughing and congestion. We have really been blessed in regards to illnesses this season! I had a test on Wednesday, which I could've done better on, so there was a lot of studying (not enough). I had school on Wednesday and Thursday, but I'm always home early on Thursday, so it's a fun family day. It was in the 80's most of the day, so when I got home there was several hours spent outside talking with the neighbors while the kids rode bikes and played with the neighbor kids. I remember times that those when I was a kid. Mom and Dad were talking with friends, so we got to stay outside later than usual. So fun!

Today was really great. The weather wasn't as nice, but we took advantage anyway. After school, Hayden and I went to the Mall and walked around. I love the time that I get to spend with him after school. He gets out at 2:10 and that is right at the end of Matilyn's nap time, so I don't rush right over to get her. I let her wake up, eat her snack, and play for a while before I pick her up. Meanwhile, Hayden and I get some quality mother-son time in. So we went to the mall, and he was so cute that he got whatever he wanted. Then we went and picked up Matilyn and went home. We had one of our famous field trips. The kids got on their bikes, and Matt and I followed on foot with Brownie in tow. As we started to the park, Matilyn started doing the pee-pee dance. Matt and Matilyn headed home and Hayden and I went to the park. We hadn't been there 5 minutes when Hayden needed to rush home to poo-poo. When we got home, Matilyn was still picking out a new outfit. We took care of business and set out for the park again. This time, Matt was smart and decided to take the car in case of emergency. Sure enough, as soon as we got to the park, Matilyn needed to go home to potty. As soon as they returned, Hayden needed to go home. So Matt was on potty patrol. We had a really great time nonetheless. Right now they are drawing behind me and Hayden is teaching Matilyn her numbers. What better teacher could we use?

Funny or sweet things said this week: In the parking lot of Wal-Mart on Monday, Hayden stopped when he heard a siren, clasped his hands, and started praying to God that the person that the ambulance was going to was ok. He repeated this the next day in the car and Matilyn joined in. Just a few minutes ago, I ran to the potty and really made a big show about needing to go really bad. When I sat down, Matilyn clasped her hands and said, "Praise God. Mama made it to the potty. Thank you God for helping her to make it to the potty." (FYI....There is never a problem with that). Aren't kids sweet!

My sweet Hayden!

Working the weekends means that Matt and the kids often go away for the weekend. Sometimes it's nice to have an empty house. I can study or watch whatever I want to on TV. I can go to bed as early or as late as I want to, and I sleep in my bed all by myself. No one wakes me up in the middle of the night. Other times, I see them pull away on a Friday night and I just feel so lonely. I hate that I am missing out on some of the best times of their lives. I hate that I am not able to go to church with them. I hate just not seeing them everyday.

Yesterday, they loaded up and left for Stephenville. Even though they have stayed in town for the last two weekends, I was really sad to see them go. Sad to the point that I teared up a bit. I was so happy when I heard that they were headed back home. They had heard that Mama Lee had a stomach bug and the kids didn't need to be exposed. It turned out that her bug was food poisoning and they left today while I was gone to work. I came home to find a present that Hayden had wrapped for me. It was a note that he had typed out for me saying that he loved me. It was also one of his trains, and if you know how much he loves those trains, you know that it was a really sweet gift. I took a picture and will attempt to upload it. I will also upload a picture of another message he typed for me.

He just has the sweetest heart. I wish he could stay young and unaffected forever!

Hayden's 5th checkup

We had the fifth checkup today for Hayden. We started the day saying that it would be the "best day ever". He has computer class on Friday. He never has aftercare on Friday, and he hates aftercare. His Valentine's party was this afternoon and both of his aunts came to the party. And then, we all went to Matilyn's Valentine's party. So, he had a lot to look forward to as the day started. He asked the nurse as soon as we walked into the exam room if he would have to get a shot. She assured him that he wouldn't. We celebrated a bit. Then the doctor confirmed that there would be no shots. Then, in the last minute, he said that a CBC ( a simple finger stick test) would be necessary to rule out anemia. Its routine for kids his age. After the tech drew his blood, I felt like I had lied to him and looked at me in a way that made me believe that he thought the same. Then, we went to his school and his classroom was empty. He cried because he believed that he had missed computer class. We ran together as fast as we could to his computer class. As soon as we got there, I was as good as invisible. Apparently, after I left the class, balloons were delivered to the students whose parents had bought them from the Student Council. I was unaware that they were for sale. Hayden cried when he saw that there were no balloons for him. Basically, I felt like a failure as a parent today. No matter what I did today, Hayden felt lied to and forgotten. A parent's worst day. A typical Friday the 13th. So sorry, my sweet buddy, that the day wasn't perfect. You are my world. I'm sorry that I can't protect you from all of the world's hurt.. I love you so much.

Matilyn's 3 year check-up

I took Matilyn to the Pediatrician today for her 3 year check-up. She asked several times before the appointment if there would be shots. I answered, honestly, that I wasn't sure. She was all smiles and very cooperative until the nurse came in with the shot (only one). She then came unglued and cried. She would stop crying after that and talk for a minute, only to remember the trauma that had happened before and start all over again. She cried that she wanted to go home and that she didn't want to go out to eat. When we got home and she had to go potty, she cried again when she saw her band-aid. She immediately wanted it off and was fine after that. I guess that the bandage was a bad memory.
She did have a clean bill of health, not that I expected anything different. She weighed in at 33 lbs and was 38 1/2 inches tall. I can't believe that she is getting so big!

Today, I was able to pick the kids up from school. We got home, put our stuff inside, and set off on a "field trip" (as Hayden put it). We all enjoyed going out into the neighborhood and checking on our friends. We loved looking at the houses in the neighborhood and Hayden commented on one yard saying that it was the most "beautiful garden in the world". He allowed his sister to take the lead on her bicycle. I had to run to keep up with them sometimes. It's amazing how much they are growing up. After a while, I had to make excuses to go home to check and see if Daddy was home (they were wearing me out!!!). Looking back, it's hard to believe that the day has come that I have to run to keep up with my kids. Next thing I know, I will give up on "keeping up" and I will have to let them go on their way without Mama tagging along. I can't even imagine the seperation anxiety that comes along with that. At Hayden's age, I was taking off into the wild blue yonder on my bike and exploring my neighborhood without my parents. Well, times have changed and that isn't safe. When will I come to a place where I am able to let go? At the age of 30? (them, not me!!!)

I forgot to mention yesterday that when we did finally find Jesus, as many spend their lives doing (and it only took a few minutes for us to find that plastic Jesus hiding in her bed linens), she asked me if Jesus was a boy or a girl. I replied that Jesus was definitely a boy. Then she asked, "Does he have a ding ding?" Isn't that just a perfect observation for such an innocent spirit? She doesn't even know that the question is a bit inappropriate or irreverent. Children just come from such a profound place of innocence and ask questions that maybe adults wish that they could ask. Now, that would not be the first question on my list, but I would love to know other practical points about Jesus. Do we ever get too old to ask questions?

We found Jesus

We found Jesus! Tonight, I came in from class and Matilyn was still awake and playing in her room. "Mama, I can't find my little Lord Jesus!" I wasn't sure what she was talking about right away, but a quick look around her room showed the rest of the plastic Nativity scene that she likes to play with. She told me where she last saw him and I found him under the bed (and I thought there was monsters under there when I was her age....No, just Jesus!). When I handed him to her, she hugged me tightly and told me that I was a hero. What a sweet girl! She made my day!