A Glimpse of Normalcy

Today was a wonderful day. I was full of energy, and plans, and capability. Today I got to feel like my old normal self. The self before lupus totally kicked my butt. Oh and yes, while talking about my totally awesome day I'll also be simultaneously having a pity party. I just wish that I could be who I used to be instead of who I am now. Most days I'm so exhausted I have to force myself to get things done, my joints hurt so much that every movement hurts... headaches, chest pain... and the list goes on and on. BUT today I got to be the real me and while it felt awesome it also made me really sad because I know it won't last. This is what I got done today. I felt like Superwoman!

• I got dressed and my make-up done while it was still morning!
• I got the kids dressed and Corben's teeth brushed and hair done while it was still morning.
• I got a meal plan and grocery list completed while I cooked and served Corben breakfast.
• I mopped, vacuumed, and dusted the house.
• I got the laundry done (including the cloth diaper laundry)
• I went grocery shopping.
• I picked up Subway for the husband and I.
• I made an AWESOME dinner (Blackened Chicken and Cilantro Lime Quinoa & Mediterranean Roasted Broccoli and Tomatoes) and Cinnamon Apple Crisps and Peanut Butter Cookies! 

•  I scheduled Quinn's 4 month checkup and an appointment for Corb.en (He keeps saying his knee hurts. I suspect it's just him saying it to say it, but want to play it safe).
• I killed FOUR freaky spiders. I should get a medal of some sort for that task alone.
• I fixed the whacked out toilet flush lever.
• Made kitchen cleaner from HERE-- such great recipes for homemade cleaners. 
•  All of this in between feeding, taking care of, and playing with the babies-- one of which was an incredibly cranky 4 month old. What was with her today?!

Now I'm exhausted and my hip feels like it should belong to a 90 year old, but I feel so accomplished and like I did such a great job of taking care of my family. Today was a good day.


 

My Little Dude

C.orben,

Where do I start? I feel like you have grown so much lately, physically and developmentally. You are such a little boy now and continue to amaze me. 

I love how in the mornings I get woken up to the sound of you singing songs over the monitor. Dancing and singing is your favorite thing to do right now and daddy and I are so amazed at how accurate you are at copying dances and songs. However, these days you don't think it's so cool when we try to dance with you. You yell, "No no mommy! Bye mommy!". 

You continue to be head over heels in love with your sister. I feel like I've been too lucky in this regard and keep waiting for you to get jealous or resentful. You love to hug and kiss her. You try to feed her your food and like to help me burp her after she eats. You get so excited when she smiles or laughs at you and when she grabs on to your face. 

You are completely potty trained and get so excited to tell us when you've gone potty. Sometimes you still get anxious about pooping in the potty and will pace around until we direct you to the bathroom. I know you'll get completely comfortable soon. Going potty is such a big step and can be a little intimidating. 

You are talking more and more. I get just as excited each time you say a new word as I did when you said your first word. Last night we started working on the sentence "Thank you God for this day". Your pronunciation isn't 100% perfect, but I love that. I'm going to miss it when you don't talk like a little kid anymore. I'm really enjoying this stage that you're in. 

You love to pray and it warms mine and daddy's heart so much. I hope that your passion for God grows and grows. 

You love your room at our new house. You are still doing great in your toddler bed and we're going to get you a twin bed in a few weeks. I already bought your bedding and I can't wait to see everything together. I just know you're going to be so excited and so proud to have an official big boy room.

I love you so much baby boy (you'll always be my baby) and I'm so proud of your loving personality. You're such a good boy and I'm so excited about watching you grow and to see all you do in life.


Love,

Mommy

 

Quinn- 4 Months Old

Quinn,

At 4 months old you are so much fun! You are this solid, chubby baby that loves to smile and is just so content. 

You've been rolling over sporadically from front to back since 6 weeks old, but now you consistently roll over both directions. For awhile there you thought it was cute to holler in the middle of the night several times for me to come and roll you back over even though you could do it yourself. Now you think it's fun to shout for me to come put your paci back in at 2:30 every morning. Please feel free to move on from that my sweet girl. Mommy reallllly loves uninterrupted sleep.

You have really got into playing with the toys on your playmats and the mobile on your swing. It's really cute and occupies you for quite a long time. 

You are madly in love with your brother, as he is with you, and you break out in a huge smile everytime you see him and let out loud laughs when he does funny things to entertain you. You are so tolerant when he loves on you a little too roughly or when he accidentally whacks you (he never sits still does he, baby girl). 

Mine and Daddy's favorite thing is when we're holding you and you do whatever you can to be able to arch back and look up at us with those big doe eyes of yours. Heart melting!

You love to eat and when I can't get to you right away you get so mad. That's one time when I definitely realize that you do have a temper. Sometimes I have to get you calmed down so you'll actually eat. You've gotten so efficient at nursing and it makes feeding on the go so much easier. You've gone from taking 20 minutes to eat to 6-8 minutes! Luckily though you'll also take a bottle of pumped milk, which is good when I'm in the middle of cooking dinner and because your daddy like to feed you too.

We moved into our new house this month and now you have your own room. I'm having so much fun making plans for it and how to decorate. There's so much space for you to play and I'm excited to watch you grow and thrive here.

Above all else I really want you to know how loved you are. You are such a perfect addition to our family. You really are... I couldn't come up with another characteristic that I wish you had or something that I would change. I'm so blessed and so grateful that you're my daughter.

I love you. I love you. I love you.

Love,

Mommy

I love your chubbernubber thighs