Updating

So the kids have been really, really sick.

After two trips to the awesome Cornerstone Pediatric Urgent Care and coming home with a nebulizer for Lilia, we went to our wonderful pediatrician, Dr. Jafri, to discover simultaneously that the virus was RSV and Evan had it too. RSV is extremely disconcerting and can turn serious fast so I was a bit overwhelmed with both the treatment and the worry.

Fortunately my parents were able to move their Spring trip and (God bless them!) they jumped right into their truck with the 5th wheel in the back and were all set up in our back yard in less than 48 hours!

Of course they had the house cleaned up and the whole thing going like clockwork in no time flat and now the kids are better and we're having a bit of fun before they leave. Thank God.

Just wanted you, my one reader, to know I haven't forgotten you and will have lots of fun blogs very soon. :)

A Few of My Favorite Things

If I were Oprah, I would make The Perfect Baby Shower Gift and give it away to hundreds of deserving new moms.

Here's what it would have in it:

• A Baby Pak Diaper Bag. It's a backpack and it's so small but it holds everything! I can do a whole day outing with both babies in this little wonder! And my hands are always free, which is rule with me.
  
• A Pikkolo baby carrier from Catbird Baby. This carrier is so versatile it can go from newborn to toddler, no problem. AND you keep your hands free. AND you don't kill your back with one of those stupid baby bucket things. AND babies almost always love it because they're being snuggled all the time!
  
• All 4 Baby Signing Time DVD's. These things are amazing. Lilia still signs so much that we're gonna roll it into a second language for homeschooling. They're so well done, the music is not annoying, and your child learns a second language.
• Of all the books I've read and love, only two would make The Gift: Sleeping Through the Night by Jodi Mindell and Families Where Grace is in Place by Jeff Van Vonderen. Because these two books saved my life.
• A book of phone numbers for my chiropractor, my lactation consultant, and about 10 grace-filled mommies. :)

There's my list! What's on yours?

Two Under Two

I no longer have two children under two! I just realized this like two days ago.

Lots of folks have asked me about how it was to have them so close together and I thought I should reflect while it's fresh.

So, here are all my reflections and all my unsolicited advice about having two children 18 months apart:

• I am SO glad we did it. I could not imagine it any other way. I thought it would take me several years to love it, but I actually enjoy it already.
• Some days are super hard. Early on we had a lot of those days. For us, having lots of help from family and friends early on was critical. For others, it works to do preschool or daycare once or twice a week for "Big Baby." If you're gonna do this, I recommend having an outstanding support system. We are blessed with incredible friends and family.
• We have been totally saved by babywearing. I find it much easier to get out of the house because I just strap Evan on and then Lilia can either walk or go in the stroller. He rarely fusses because he's where he wants to be, I don't need to worry and my attention can be focused on whatever Lilia's getting into at the moment. ;)
• Make a "no stress" zone in your house -- completely toddlerproofed so that you can nurse Little while Big plays without ever having to worry about Big getting into something frustrating. We gated off our front room so I could always have an eye on Lilia, even when Evan is nursing or whatever.
• We have found in talking to others with similar age gaps that jealousy is rarely a serious problem when they're this close together.
• Get Big into a predictable sleeping routine before Little comes! There are a million ways to do this and I'm not saying have a rigid schedule, but it's really nice to have ONE predictable baby. It is extraordinarily hard when both babies are having trouble sleeping through the night.
  
• Get used to having hard conversations with your spouse. Particularly conversations about strategies to meet everyone's basic needs for sleep and food and to keep your marriage alive and well through this phase. Excellent cooperation is essential.
• Learn how to get out of the house. This felt completely overwhelming to me for a while, but having a backpack diaper bag and a few other essentials was incredibly helpful and sometimes just going to the park is a total Godsend.

I Can't Believe I Forgot!

I forgot one more big change -- I'm taking the GRE and getting ready to go to grad school!


Please recall, not long ago, that I found out Fuller Southwest is trying to add the MFT program. I got very excited but had no idea what to do about it.

Then recently Jeff worked days instead of evenings for a training, and that week happened to be the week of a Fuller preview night. I felt compelled to go.

That's been the thing I keep saying, "I felt compelled." I can't think of any other way to say it. I know I have a choice, but the Next Right Thing just keeps jumping out at me in a way that I can't justify any other option.

This is not common for me but here I am and I have to do it. I have to do it the same way I had to tell Jeff that I'd fallen in love with him in Spring of 2005. I am compelled.

So I went to this preview night and learned a few things:
1. They are trying to get this program out here but it sounds like maybe a 50/50 shot that it will happen.
2. If it does happen the program will be extremely competitive to get into because they really want the first class through it to be successful -- small class sizes, etc.
3. Fuller is incredibly expensive (I later found out that the other option is equally expensive)

Wouldn't you think I would go home discouraged and giving up on this idea? Me too. But I didn't. I went home astonished, but certain -- certain -- that I now need to take the GRE (will be a requirement) and start working on prerequisite classes. So I'm doing that now.

I have no idea where it will lead but I can't live with myself if I don't do what I feel called to do today. So I'm going to hit the practice math questions and the vocab flash cards on my way to bed tonight. This is so weird.

Turning Pages

Funny Story:

Jeff and I got married after a very long love story and a very short engagement. I have never been more sure of anything in my life.

Except the moment that I walked down the aisle. Then I totally freaked out. All I could think was: FOREVER! What was I thinking??? I am not old enough to make this decision!

Of course I was terrified to tell Jeff how I felt because I was certain it would devastate him. But I was serious about being honest with my husband-of-about-three-hours, so I told him in the car on the way to the hotel.

"Babe, I'm totally freaking out right now. Is that okay? I'm just totally freaking out!"

His response was a harbinger of his beautiful, calming influence on my life ever since:

"Babe, you don't do well with change." Wry grin.



Well, there are a lot of changes going on around here! Since many of my previous posts have been sort of cerebral I thought it was about time I update those who want to know about what's going on "on the ground." Here goes:

• Lilia's first day in "big gull panties" was Monday! She still wears diapers at sleep times, but this is a big deal for us!
• Evan is in the "only crawling backward" stage and it's sort of painful to watch. Poor guy! The more he wants something the faster he backs away from it. But it reminds me that we're entering the "moving baby" phase. Crazy. I can't imagine our family without Evan in it, but it seems like he was born yesterday.
  
• Jeff had an interview yesterday with the network operations department at his company. It has been his dream to go into networking for some time and he's been going to school for it for a while now, so he is super excited about the potential for this opportunity. The interview went well. Prayers are still appreciated.

As usual when big changes come, I am just sort of holding on for the ride. It's weird that I don't even enjoy good changes. I like them once the thing has had a chance to settle, mind you, but I just don't feel that great until the changing part is over.

Praying my way through and loving my family. I am so proud of their achievements, big and small. :)