New pics

We need a new post on the top of this blog, so here are some photos of the kids from the last couple weeks.

Here they are playing with the "binoculars" they made one morning. It was a great craft; it entertained them all morning.

We had one sunny, slightly warmer day, and Aubrey enjoyed some swing time.

They were very excited about wearing some new pjs last night. Funny kids. They're both sprouting up. Kari's getting so tall, and Joel's not far behind.

So not fair

Guess what I have? A sinus infection. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? I had a good cry this morning, and I'm doing better now emotionally. It's only been 12 days since the surgery, and supposedly, because my head's not quite healed, the cold that Aubrey shared with me this weekend, became more than a cold. Such a bummer! And so very frustrating!
I guess I have to think long-term. It's going to get better eventually, so they say...

One-Year Photos

I whisked Aubrey in (between ear infections) for a quick photo session right after her birthday to document her one-year-oldness, and I'm just now getting around to posting them.
Here she is.

I'm back!

It took a full week, but I finally started feeling like I was going to be ok. I'm still not quite to the point of being glad I had the sinus surgery, but I'm doing MUCH better, and, hopefully, time will prove that it was a good and necessary misery to put myself (and my family) through. The doctor says it's going to work and that I should be able to breathe better and shouldn't get sinus infections nearly as often anymore, and I sure hope he's right. As I layed in bed and on the couch for that week, I thought a lot about how thankful I am for my husband, for our extended family, and for our friends. So many people helped in so many ways. God has blessed us with wonderful friends and family.

One thing became clear as I layed there doing absolutely nothing. My baby is no longer a baby, and she doesn't really need me, at least not the way she used to. Now that she's done nursing, I'm just as good as the next person. :) Actually, I'm not quite as good as "Bp-Pa"-- Grandpa A., that is. In the last week or so, Aubrey became quite attached to Grandpa. She says a few words now, and "Bp-Pa" is one of them. She's toddling around all over the place. We'll have to get a video up here sometime soon.

Kari and Joel just carried on as usual and did pretty well with things being different from their regular schedules and routines. They kept busy. A few nights ago I heard Kari praying at bedtime: "Please, make Mommy get better SOON!" I think they're glad to be getting back to normal life again, too.

Be back soon (hopefully)!

I had my sinus surgery last Friday, and I'm having a s-l-o-w recovery. Greg has been Mister Mom and Super Care Giver and has been amazing. Hopefully I'll be up to sitting at the computer to blog again soon. I've got a few posts swirling around in my foggy head.

Remember this?

Quite a while ago (can't remember exactly when) my dad put this first video of Kari reciting verses on Tangle.com (formerly Godtube), and he sent me an e-mail today saying it's received 11,880 hits! And no, I don't think he's watched it 11, 880 times. :)

It's fun to look back and hear little Kari with her little lisp and see little Kari with her self-cut bangs. She's growing up quickly. Now Joel's learning some of those same verses from the notebook. It's kind of hard to believe she was his age (just over three) when we shot this video.

Perseverance (and patience!)

I was pulling photos off the camera and came across these. I forgot about this delightful sibling moment. Joel made Aubrey laugh, and I mean really laugh, for quite a while. We've been having quite a time with the JB lately. First of all, he turned three. That alone may be enough to explain his behavior. However, he also, in the last few weeks, stopped taking his afternoon nap. We now have "rest" time for Joel, as we do for Kari, but he's still in nap transition, and every few days he falls asleep from pure exhaustion. Nap transition is rough! We've had more discipline issues, defiance, and tantrums in the last month than we ever had when he was two. So, this post is a reminder for me that Joel still has good moments, and that this, too, shall pass. We'll persevere! :) And then maybe someday sweet Joel-boy will come back.

Now he's old, too

Happy Birthday to my hubby!
Greg likes to make mention of the fact that he is married to an older woman--40 days older, that is. But after today, he's no longer in his twenties either. I married a wonderful man, even if he does like to tease me.
Thanks for being such a devoted husband and father, Greg. I appreciate all you do for us, and I love you very much.

Pigtails

I haven't had much to blog about recently, except for maybe the 12 doctor appointments we've had in the last month. That's pretty much what we've been doing. We're hoping for a better month, health-wise, next month.

Here are Aubrey's first pigtails. We have a hair bow battle going on. She takes them out, and I put them back in.
I had to throw this funny one in, too.

Afternoon activity one day this week

Joel warmed up to the idea of messy hands and for the first time enjoyed himself while fingerpainting.