Needed break

So life has been extra hectic lately. I don't think one week has gone by in months without having 1-2 appointments every week with either a doctor, agency or something relating to Brody's 'special needs' -not that that is the intention of that label but I am using it as such right now.

My calendar is so full of appointments (yes this is the first time I have actually purchased a huge folder with a calender in order to keep track of everything). Though it makes for a hectic life to have all these appointments and meetings because they are always in addition to the everyday normal things like school, caring for children and house. I realize people have a lot more going on in life but consider I only have two children and they are 2 and 4 years old. It is not like I am in the phase of children who have a bunch of after school programs and I am not working.

I am not complaining just an explanation of where the hectic life stems from.

This is good because it means there are many avenues and places Brody is getting help. From services from DDD that allow Brody to have therapy to doctors that are aiding in his digestive system to improve all go into helping Brody.

This weekend I am lucky enough to have a short break and getaway. It is all made possible by my best friends and my ever amazing and capable husband.

I feel very lucky and blessed. Many women who are mothers do not have husband's in graduate school that are so willing to take over the primary role of caregiver at the drop of a hat or have friends who make the getaway so convenient and simple.

I will try to remember to take pictures so that I remember the getaway. Also I will make sure to be grateful and enjoy the moment instead of being one of those mothers who are away to have a break but still think and worry about what is going on at home!

Ryan needs perspective

Someone should let Ryan know that putting on a shirt is not a form of torture (I guarantee water boarding is worse).

Also someone should mention that wiping his nose will not kill him and in fact I am doing him a favor by not letting snot get all over his face and hands.

Ryan should realize that when he is tired and trips it is not the end of the world but merely a useful incident to prove to his mommy that he is tired and needs a nap.

Of all the people in this world the person I pray gets some perspective is Ryan...I mean there is still child labor in some parts of the world!

Worst two days of my life...

Okay that sounds so dramatic cause it might not be true. But for a while it felt like it.

Also how come more people don't die from stomach flu? I suppose at some point when my head was in the toilet and I only had bile left to throw up is when I had the thought about dying. I know that sounds pathetic cause there are people who have cancer and diseases that cause true suffering but I couldn't help to feel that way.

Your whole body aches and the nausea seemed never ending. To make things even worse the whole family got it. There is nothing worse than a little boy who is sick but just doesn't understand what is going on. Thank goodness Jake got it a day later cause the first day when we were all worse he stayed home and took care of us. I like to think he saved our lives with waiting on us, doing dishes, cleaning up everything from the laundry to the throw up from both little boys. He also helped me cancel a meeting I had about Brody with three different people and it wasn't easy to call three people who were suppose to be coming over early in the day yesterday and we didn't have their cell phones! I could not have properly taken care of my two sick boys if he didn't stay home yesterday. So hopefully today since he was where I was at yesterday I can take care of him.

Stomach flu is the worst but a family with stomach flu is just hell on earth!!!

(Sorry, I thought I was done with dramatic statements but I guess not)

Random pics

Brody has started a habit of coloring on his face
He sneekily got a hold of a sharpy and this is the result...one of my fav pics of him ever!!

Ryan throwing rocks

Ryan being crazy

Ryan eating dirt

Together on New Years Eve

Ryan looking cute for church (his first sweat vest)!

Speaking of Ryan....I had a big lovely scratch on face from Ryan - Happy New Year - don't I look pretty!!

Christmas

I sort of skipped right over Christmas. Perhaps that is because we really only gave our kids one big gift and since our kids don't really understand Christmas we had to practically pull their arms into the room while they were crying and help them open the gift.

As you can see from the pictures we gave our boys a trampoline. It is the perfect size for their young ages. It is bigger than those small individual size trampolines but its not as big as those ones that take up a third of a person's yard. They are at the perfect age when one big gift is perfectly fine with them. They aren't bummed or upset that they don't have numerous gifts to open...especially because they got gifts from my side of the family and Jake's.

On Christmas Eve, Becky, Jake and Trevor assembled the trampoline (it is perfect on our patio) then we wrapped the empty box it came in that had the picture on the front and put it by the tree.

I am going to try to edit the video we took of them on the tramp since blogger can't seem to handle anything longer than a minute. If I can't get the video to work, lets just say the trampoline was a hit and they LOVE IT!