This is the second time now that I have blogged from a hospital room. We are still in Dallas and the festivities have, um, pittered out. Last week my mom, dad, Stu and Blake all seemed to be coming down with an annoying cold that has turned out to be some sort of respiratory infection. Besides the nerve wracking cough, it has affected everyone differently. Mom has been put in the hospital, because she’s been having some problems with shortness of breath for a few months (probably related to her heart condition), and the cold has made everything much, much worse. She can hardly catch her breath. These hospital stints usually leave my sister in quite a lurch because she’s the only sibling close enough to help quickly-so I was happy that I was finally here to help, even if it did mean changing a plane ticket. Well, it’s a good thing I changed the plane ticket because Blake’s “minor” ear infection took a turn for the worse the day we put mom in the hospital. It has been very frightening watching him become so lethargic and his fever so high. His coughing fits have exhausted him and they seem to hurt so bad. At the urging of my pediatritian in MD, (after 2 unsuccessful doctor’s visits here, I’ll spare you the details, you’re welcome), we spent the day yesterday at the pediatric ER down the street from my mom’s hospital. So I haven’t really been all that helpful to Daina. Choosing between your sick baby and your sick mother is pretty heart wrenching. Yesterday Stu’s mother came over to Dallas to help with Blake, so I spent the night with mom last night.
This is what I would like to discuss today. However, I think my overnight hospital adventure will probably be in a future blog. I have a more important realization.
If you know me, you know that I get sick all the time. If there’s something to be caught, I catch it. It’s a running joke between Stu and I. I don’t know why God sometimes allows things to happen to us that seem really bad, like my mom and Blake being so sick. I do know that he makes no assurances that we won’t go through bad things. I also know that he promises to be with us and offer his grace, comfort, and peace during difficult times. I am a recipient!
That being said, there has been a great blessing in all this. I am still not sick. This seems impossible, but I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that He has given me the strength to get through this with a healthy body. There have been too many people to take care of for me to be sick too, and I am so grateful that I have been healthy this week. Now, I might crash soon. I’m even starting to feel a suspicious tickle in my throat as we speak, but things are calming down now. And I can bear it.
You’ve probably figured by now that I’m not holiday blogging. There are too many children, meals, ear infections, suitcases, laundry, flight reservations, people to see, and things to do right now for me to keep up. We are having fun. I will be back in the office soon. Later this week maybe? I have lots to tell you. Until then, our latest attempt at a family photo, brought to you by Bear in the Big Blue House.
So it’s official, I have failed the December blog challenge. I have a doctor’s note for my first absence, but the second absence was due to sheer laziness (and lack of material). My third absence was due to hot date night with Stu.
We have the bestest friends anyone could have. When we moved to Maryland I used to tell Stuart that we could never have kids because we have no help, and even though we have had great friends here, there’s nothing like family, right? Well let me tell you, when God takes you somewhere, He will provide for your needs. We asked, He answered. Brian and Kelli have adopted us (and us them) into their family and I can truly say they will always be that to us. They love our son and he loves them. Those of you with kids know the peace you have when you are sure your kids are being left in a place they are happy. Blake is so happy there. And last night, he spent the night there. Stu and I had a full night and morning alone together. Now those of you who have grandparents down the street may get to feel this temporary “freedom” on a regular basis, but this was the first time for us in 14 months (not that the Hillmars haven’t been trying to get him for months ). It was super fun. But I’m sure glad to have my boy back here with me.
Now, you can enjoy a random video taken a few days ago. Stu jumps out from around corners and scares the daylights out of Blake on a regular basis. And Blake loves it. The more startled he is, the better. They had just finished playing, and I was going to get B to do his animal noises, but he still wanted to play. And Daddy obliged.
Blake was up early today, so it’s going to be a 2 nap day. Or so I thought. He’s phasing out the 2 nap thing. Or something. He’s been in bed since 9:30. At 10 I went and changed a poopie diaper. And now it’s almost 11. He’s talking away up there. He’s supposed to be done with nap 1 so we can be out and about, getting done with the 15 things I was supposed to do today. So, I could just run up there and get him, but if he hasn’t napped yet, he’s going to be super fun today. If it’s a 1 nap day, then he needs to go back down by 1. If he falls asleep now, he’ll sleep for 2 or 3 hours. I’m never leaving this house today. It’s a good thing I like my house. It’s a good thing I have the internet.
An unidentified package! Here is a story I must tell. Can’t not tell it. And the moral is: my man will protect his family at all costs. He’s just that kind of guy. Be jealous.
We’re eating dinner tonight, listening to the ice tap tap tap against the windows. The doorbell rings. Hmmm, that’s weird. Stu opens the door to see what appears to be a delivery guy walking away. He looks down. There’s a box. Stu yells, “Thanks!” The guy waves as he walks into the night. Stu picks the box up to pull it into the house. This is when he makes the announcement: “This box isn’t addressed to anyone”.
dum dum duuummmmm.
There’s no “to” “from”. Something rattles around in it when we shake it. Stu quickly puts it back out on the front porch. My inclination is to solve the mystery by opening the package, but alas, we watch too much tv. Why would a big anonymous package be showing up at our house?? A friend dropping off a Christmas present (if so, why the unfamiliar delivery guy?)?We continue to debate opening it and decide to play, “WWBD?” We call the wisest person we know and one of our dearest friends, Brian, and explain the situation. Should we call the police? The FBI? He laughs. He would open it. OK, Stuart unwillingly concedes. But not after he goes down to his toolbox and hands me a mask and protective eyewear. I’m still on the phone with Brian, guffawing at this point. He refuses to open the box until I protect my lungs and eyes. I do, but first I get the camera (at Brian’s urging).
Here’s the scene:
What is it, you ask?
A Christmas present ordered from Target. The address label was on the bottom.
…Merry Christmas from the family. If you recognize those lyrics, then this wedding theme might not surprise you. If you don’t know this song and you love me, you should look it up. It might just be my most favoritist homestyle Christmas songs.
Only in the Great State of Texas can a tractor be so prized that it becomes a wedding theme. These are some pictures of my second cousin’s wedding. She’s a pretty John Deere bride at a pretty John Deere wedding. In a barn. Guests sat on bails of hay, and sunflowers decorated the barn. I miss Texas.
Besides it being a unique wedding theme, riding the John Deere for the first time with his Big Daddy was quite a milestone for Blake. His first ride was in June of 2008. Yeehaw.
So Colleen and Jose were here visiting this weekend, and with them come their girls, Peanut and Canela. Peanut is the feistier of the 2 chihuahuas, and you know how some dogs like babies and lick them to death? Peanut’s not one of those. I know Colleen thinks she’s the sweetest little pup ever, but she’s not (sorry C-Rod). Blake, however, who doesn’t pick up on subtle nuances like growling and barking, thought she was the cat’s pajamas. He did learn about what happens when you trap a snarling chihuahua in a corner and lunge at her. He’s healing nicely. And no, he’s not traumatized. Here’s a little clip of B vs the chihuahuas. It’s hard to differenciate between Blake’s new chihuahua bark and the dog’s. But you will see him stop and bring back an old family favorite. When we ask him what a dog says, he pants, which is what most dogs seem to do right in his face. Hilarious.
Except NOT. Because apparently “holiday hours”-which includes weekends-don’t start until next weekend at Ann’s House of Nuts. Let me back up. My bff and her husband are here this weekend and I have been so pumped to take them there to show off this little treasure. I have bragged about the trail mixes and nuts and candy and fruit and baking stuff that you can find there at bargain prices and we were very excited to go there to get supplies for our “dip stuff in chocolate to make Christmas thingies” day. Seriously, is it not the holidays? Holiday hours start NEXT weekend. Whatever.
Anyways, Super G to the rescue, we made Christmas thingies anyways.
And to Columbia. I love how Christmas makes everyone a little cheerier, even in Columbia. If you read yesterday’s blog you’ll see that I was having kind of a frazzled day. Before bedtime, and after the dressing freakout, I realized we were out of milk for his bottle and we needed more Vaseline to treat his incision. So I run off to the store in the very cold rain. I get all the way there-to checkout- when I realize I don’t have my wallet. I keep my wallet in my diaperbag, so this as happened before on the rare occasion I go somewhere without B. So here I am, literally the woman at the store who needs milk for her baby (and Vaseline). I almost cried. I must have looked like an idiot.
Then kind lady behind me paid for my stuff! I thanked her profusely, and she simply said, “Merry Christmas”. Last night I was thinking how I wish I could pay her back and decided I could go with the pay it forward theory. So this week, feel free to join me in finding someway to help someone pitiful like me. My Christian radio station is doing some kind of pay for the person’s food behind you in the drive-thru campaign. I’m pretty sure they had a catchier name for it, but whatever. So that’s an idea. Let me know if you do someting, and I’ll keep you posted too! Spread the joy! Hurry, go!
However, I think my overnight hospital adventure will probably be in a future blog. I have a more important realization. 
