Mommy not feeling so good

I am always complaining about how often my husband is getting sick, I know, I'm awful. Well this time around I got sick, mind you, it was/is just a cold. I just haven't had one in a while and it has taken a lot out of me.

My dear husband has been so wonderful to me taking care of the kids and not minding there being no dinner or no clean clothes. I just want to feel better already and no medicine seems to be working either!

Today Tristan has a friend over. I am glad he's getting a chance to play.

My baby boy is growing up

I can't believe it will be three years since I gave birth to my Tristan this Sunday. Time is flying by way too fast and I wish I could hit the slow motion button so I could savor every second I have with these precious souls I have been blessed with.

The things Tristan gets excited about or upset over are so simple for instance today. He got a sponge bob bandaid at the doctor on his finger and he literally wore it all day. He did not want to take it off. So when it came off at bath time you can imagine the sadness that followed.

Another cute thing he does is ask me to carry him like a baby. I LOVE it when he asks me this. It makes me so happy inside.

I am not ready for them to grow up. I am always going to want my kids to want me and to hold them and to kiss their boo boos.

New Job

I just started a babysitting job full time for a friend of mine. Today was day two and I feel confident that I will enjoy doing this! I watch my 2 plus an 8 month old boy and a 2 year old girl. It is a lot of work but I am glad I am able to make a little extra money. Here are some pictures that I've taken since I started.

Family Update

Erik and Tristan both have colds...it isn't even officially Fall yet!  So, I took him on Monday but his teacher told me he was coughing too much.  I didn't think he was coughing that much, but I guess I have a lot to learn.  Little children have very weak immune systems.  I have been working with him at home out of a store bought preschool workbook and he seems to enjoy doing that.  He also painted some pictures.  I think this is something I am going to have to get used to, him getting sick more often due to him being around other children more often in a school system, at least it will help build up his immune system.

Last week Tristan went and had an EEG done at the hospital to determine whether or not they would wean him off of his anti-seizure medication.  The doctor called me back a couple days ago and told me to start weaning him.  I'll post some pictures at the end of this post.  He enjoyed it from the looks of the pictures but what I didn't capture was him screaming and crying and me comforting him.  In order to get a good reading on an EEG it is best if you are relaxed and that your muscles aren't tense.

This is our last week with Doug before he goes back to school :(  I am very glad that he is going to school but we are going to miss all of the time that we have had with him.  Plus we only have one vehicle so I will be playing taxi cab driver as I drop him off at work and then pick him up everyday. 

As for me I am going to be taking piano lessons this year and I am very excited.  Hopefully next week will be my first lesson, if the kids are feeling better : )  I am also exploring a different way of doing meals for dinner.  I have already made one, but I want to make more.  I want to start making freezer meals since I am becoming more busy driving around and picking Erik and Doug up and with my calling at church I think it would make my life a little more easier.

On a side note I wanted to throw out a completely unrelated tidbit about how I want to use my blog to share my beliefs .  There are a lot of other blogs that I follow that are so well at doing this like http://www.beinglds.blogspot.com Check it out some time she has some amazing talents and some amazing ideas on how to strengthen your family and I love reading her blog.  Anyways, just Go check it out.

Here are the pictures of Tristan:

He was actually laughing as he was being mummified!

 They had to put the towel around his neck to keep

his head propped up and from him being able

to move it around.

Still all smiles!

All hooked up and ready to GO!

Right at the very end of the test I gave him a couple of fruit snacks 

to help him calm down, notice how happy it made him!

 This is after the test is over.  I was unable to take pictures during the test due 

to the screaming and such, he decided he didn't like being wrapped up anymore.

Crazy hair after they cleaned all the goo out.

Erik's First Week of School

Monday Erik had his first day of school.  The first day was a half day to introduce the parents and the new preschoolers to what a typical day would be like.  I kept telling Erik that I would be going with him and he would tell me, "No, mom you are going to drop me off and then go home."  He was ready from the very beginning to be on his own.  He goes from Monday thru Thursday 9am-noon.  They are being introduced to the alphabet, lower case specifically, which Erik does need help with. 

Tuesday he had no problems being dropped off all on his own.  I was the one that had a hard time saying goodbye.  He ran right in with all the other kids and has had a great time the rest of the week.  Tristan has been missing his older brother though, so I have made sure to set up play time with his friend Hannah from church and even got him in a little toddler-parent class on Tuesdays. 

I will put up pictures later as well but for now just wanted to post a quick update on how they were doing.

My Little Boy is Off To School

 

Yesterday I got the phone call that Erik got into preschool.  Wow, how crazy is that!  I think I am still  trying to get used to the idea of Erik going to preschool.  We still have until September 12th but it's slowly but surely creeping up on us.  He is so excited about learning and making new friends. 

 

As for Tristan we will have to set up some play dates because he might get a little bored without his big brother around to play with.   I just LOVE that smile!

Here's an Update...

I know it's a miracle.  These "things" don't happen too often, but I feel when I get too far behind on updating it's too much to blog so I want to try and give it a shot.  Slowly I want to inform you about our summer, not that we did a whole lot, which makes it easier, but here goes.  I'll start with what's going on with us now.

I am doing much better with my health, and now can to drive again, yea!  The only thing is we only have one car so I don't get to drive that much.  If I need the car I am able to drop Doug off at work, but for now I am just grateful that I am able to get out by myself, or take my kids to the park or library during the day.  I feel like a free woman!  As far as news for me goes that is pretty much it for myself.

Doug is working a lot and preparing to go back to school at the end of September.  We are hoping all the hard work he has been putting in at his job will give them a reason to give him a promotion of some kind.  He has been doing lots of over-time.  Other than that he has just been enjoying the summer with us.

Erik has had plenty of fun this summer!  He loves being outside riding his bike and car.  He loves playing with his sidewalk chalk and writing his ABC's.  He also loves walking to the parks in our neighborhood.  We have had plenty of picnics this summer.  Going to the zoo and beach is also another thing he loves to do.  When we are inside he loves to play with his Thomas train and Lightning McQueen "race"car as he calls it.   It's the first thing he asks for in the morning.  We find out next week if he got into a preschool we registered him for.  He will be so excited for that if he did.  We love him and he is such a great little boy to be around.

As for Tristan I can't believe how fast he is growing.  He is starting to say more words.  Like Erik, he is a late talker.  Some of the words he says are:  More, ball, choo choo train, car, mama, dada and duck.  He loves to play with puzzles and is very good with them.  He will finally let me read books to him so we do that a lot during the day now.  He loves to say cheese for the camera and is so cute about it.  He loves to do whatever his big brother is doing.  We are so happy to have our little Tristan!

Easter

I know it's a little late but I wanted to post some pictures from when Doug's mom and Frank visited.  Erik and Tristan don't get to see these grandparents very often so Erik and Tristan were excited and enjoyed the attention they got.

Erik and Tristan with Grandma Elliott.

 

 Erik had lots of fun dying the Easter eggs.

I forgot to get pictures of the finished products but there

were stickers and tattoos that we put on the eggs.

Right before they Grandma and Grandpa left we got a picture of the boys 

with them.  They had a blast playing together and hope to see them soon again!

An Update

Yes, we are all still alive if anyone was wondering.  Life has been crazy busy and interesting to say the least.  There have been some ups and downs and lots of changes, but all in all life is good and we are all happy and healthy.

Erik is now in Sunbeams and he loves going to Primary!  He has a hard time when we drop him off but once he's there in sharing time he has a blast and he loves the music and always wants to participate.  He loves learning new things.  He has been teaching himself how to write letters and how to spell words.  He can currently spell the words: Mommy, Daddy, Erik, Tristan, stop, it and up.  He is also writing these words on paper by himself.  I'll have to take a picture and post it.  He also loves music and he is such a happy content boy.

Tristan is getting so big these days and is quite clingy.  He is now 17 months old and will be going into nursery every week for the next month to get used to it with Doug or I.  Yesterday was his first Sunday and he LOVED it!  He did a great job playing with the other kids and I think the transition, once Doug and I stop going with him, won't be as hard on him as it was with Erik.  I love the nursery leaders we have in our ward they do a great job and are very mindful of the structure the little ones need.

As for Doug he is very busy these days.  Between work, school, and his calling at church we pretty much never see him.  He is almost finished with his first semester at Baker College.  He is getting his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science.  Work is keeping him very busy with lots of projects and as well.  We are very grateful for all that he does for our family and the time that we do get to spend with him.

As for me, where do I start...I have had some health issues and I have had some tests done.  I am doing well and am healthy so no need to worry.  I was diagnosed with epilepsy about 10 years ago and was controlled for a long time until this past October I started having seizures again.  I have had an MRI and an EEG done they both came back normal.  Since October I have had 4 Grand Mal seizures.  I am always sleeping when Doug is still here when it happens.  I have never worried about having any during the day.  State law in Michigan says you have to be seizure-free for 6 months before you can drive.

I have had a hard time dealing with not being able to drive and being stuck at home.  I have also noticed that I would be in bad moods all the time.  The frequency in which I read my scriptures and said my prayers significantly dropped and I just went into a depression.  I felt scared and alone and I didn't, and don't understand why after all these years I am having seizures again.  So yesterday in Church I had a major wake up call.  There were a couple talks given on parenting and husband and wife relationships.  I don't remember specifics but I know that it touched me and it made me think that I need that change what I am currently doing.  In Relief Society we had a similar lesson which reinforced that which I learned in Sacrament meeting. 


Needless to say I am going to be making some major changes in my life.  I know that the Lord has a plan for me and I know that He knows that I can get through it.  I need to choose how I get through it.  I need to be there for my children and for my husband.  I can't if I'm wallowing in my own self-pity.  Here's to a new month and a new me!  GOOD LUCK TO ME!!!

My little boys

I was looking through my pictures and came across this picture.

Oh, how I love my Erik!

He can always put a smile on my face and

he is always happy to help me around the house.

In just a few short months he is going to be turning 3 years old!!!

Where has all the time gone?  It seems like only yesterday 

the nurse was putting him in my arms for the very first time.

Then there's this little guy

Tristan is my other little angel!  He is one of 

the happiest babies I know!  He always has a smile on his

face and he loves to laugh!  He is only about a month away from turning

ONE!!!  What am I going to do with myself if my children keep growing up so fast?

I love being a mother to these two little boys!  They make my day everyday!

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful mother's day and I hope all of you did too!  Here are some pictures from our day.

Tristan in awe at discovering his hands and fingers!

I had the hardest time getting pictures of my boys.

Erik not really wanting a picture.

Tristan teething!  He's getting his fifth tooth!

Erik finally let me get a nice picture of him!

There's my happy boy!

My wonderful hubby!

Me and Doug

I made pineapple salsa and it was delicious!  Recipe to come...

I've been wanting cupcakes for a while so I made them and

they were oh so yummy!

Grandpa with Erik.  They had LOTS of fun playing together!

Grandma and Tristan

Grandma and Erik

Grandma having fun with Erik

Finally got him to smile at the camera!

These are the flowers that I got for my mother, Gerber Daisies!

I love you Mom, you are the greatest mom!

Me with Erik

Me and Tristan!

I just love being a mother.  I love that I am able to kiss boo boo's away.  I love being

able to sing songs at bedtime, even though I am no where close to being

a good singer.  I love seeing the excitement in my children s eyes when they discover

something new or when I make them smile!  I am grateful for my own mother and the

help and advice she can offer to me as I learn in this new calling of mine.    

What do you think?

So, if you have been visiting my blog recently you may have noticed that I keep on changing the way it looks.  Well, I think I've finally made it look the way that I want it to.  I would like to do something about my header but I'm not sure what.  I want to keep the name but make some sort of decorative border and maybe a photo of some kind to go with it but I am not very savvy with html and I don't know how to use any photo editing programs. 

I want to know what everyone thinks about the new look of my blog.  If anyone has any ideas on how to create a more exciting header please leave a comment!  Here are some pictures of Tristan I have taken this week.  Enjoy!

Tristan's first time in a swing.  He LOVED it!

He laughed when I would grab his feet and pull him and then let go!

I had fun playing with my camera again and I really like this picture of Tristan

I like the Black and White pictures and how this one turned out.

I don't know about you but I LOVE baby feet!

Still in the swing, chewing on his hand.  I think he is teething again.

Tristan's baby blues!

The light is too bright in this picture but I still really like this picture of how he is holding onto

the side of the swing for dear life!