Wordless Wednes...er...Friday

Free At Last!

Quick update on the family: Over the past 8 weeks, we have had one completely healthy week. Currently Christopher is down with an intestinal virus that might have created a mess today at Target. That's all I'm saying.

I've tried to post these pictures since Friday, but my computer and our server are not getting along. Today things seem to be working...

When the thermometer reads 49 degrees and you've been indoors under blankets for more than 4 months, it's time to go outside and absorb some vitamin D. Look at the smiles!


Sadly for us, the ground is already snow covered again, and the outdoor smiles seem far away. We are even more ready for spring!

Wandering Eyes?

On the way to school in the mornings, I take a few quick moments to pray with Ally, asking God to help her to be kind, patient, diligent, and courageous. We pray for her teacher and classmates, and often I pray for Daddy at work and myself and the little ones at home.

We incorporate other things into our nighttime prayers with the kids. When we're sick, they're heavily focused on healing, strength, and rest. When we're tired or ornery, they're focused on rest and peace. When it's been a peaceful day, we remember to thank God for all that He has given us. We always pray for family (far and near) and we always pray for sleep (because it's in short supply around here).

We've heard funny things and poignantly honest things. We've heard (and said) things like, "Please help Chrissy to stop pulling my hair so that I can pray..." We think a good conversation with God is healthy and necessary.

But I have no idea what kind of day precipitated the prayer that Ally has recited more than once in recent days.

"Dear Jesus...Help Daddy to keep his eyes on his own sites."

Happy Valentine's Day from the Foxes

Woe

Woe is me. Or I should say, woe is us. I guess that would more accurately be: woe are us.

Whatever, we are woed. Or I think woeful.

Sorry, I'll stop.

My brain is fried. This week brought two more sicknesses, believe it or not. I have stopped counting because the number was really unbelievable, but I'm fairly certain that puts us at 13 or 14 distinct sicknesses for the 5 Fox family members in the last 6 weeks.

Four trips to the pediatrician (five if you include Chris's 18-month check-up). Only one trip to urgent care.

Six prescriptions, if I'm not mistaken.

Four social-ish events missed.

This week I was stricken with bronchitis and Natalie had a NASTY virus AND ear infection painfully mixed together. She was feverish and miserable for the better part of 4 days. Today, the 5th day, she was about 75% herself. Which is to say, she was calm and quite pleasant, but had to blow her nose approximately 163 times, give or take a dozen.

The stinger is, Allyson has yet to show signs of this nasty virus (Chris had it a week before Nat). So I'm somewhat prepared for sickness #15.

Deep breathing helps a little. And ice cream.

Anyway, today was quite good, especially considering I stockpiled Kleenex last time they were on sale at Walgreen's.

Let me just tell you a quick story so we can all leave this post smiling.

One day before Natalie got so sick, I asked her as I always do after nap, "Did you have a good nap?"

She quickly responded, "Yep, it was good. I was singing some songs, and I went poopy, and I went potty, and then I sleeped."

Now you know the elements of a good nap.

The Weekend in List Form

I could tell several individual stories from the past few days that have little or nothing to do with one another, but today I'm opting for a good ol' fashioned list.

(It makes me feel less like I'm rambling and more like I'm organized.)

1. Christopher woke from his nap on Friday afternoon with a fever and an unhappy disposition. Apparently his sleep issues as of late were, at least partly, due to a DOUBLE ear infection. The last ear infection was just 3 weeks ago, so we are hoping that this new antibiotic will kick it. We are quite optimistic because the precious child slept in his own bed for nearly 11 hours last night! I refrained from cranking up the monitor to make sure he was still breathing. (Side note: 3 of the last 4 Saturdays necessitated a trip to the pediatrician's office.)


2. We were supposed to have a date night on Saturday, but could not, due to Christoper's general state of misery. (That would be the second date that has been foiled by a sick kid in the last three weeks.)


3. There was this game yesterday. Big stuff apparently. I am not native to Wisconson (we've lived here 5 years), and I am not a huge sports fan, but I must admit to feeling a bit of Packer Pride today.


4. Did you see the Darth Vader Volkswagon commercial? Stinkin' cute.


5. Dave and I were on the worship team yesterday and were asked to wear team colors. After the sound check, Dave was told his saxophone didn't sound quite right. Hmmmm. I can honestly say that doesn't happen often. It might have had something to do with the Steeler's jersey that he wore while playing.


6. David is currently growing a fungus in our basement in an effort to make his own Kombucha tea. It's kinda gross. And he "checks on it" more often than he checks on our own children. Oh yes, he does.


7. We've decided that, as a family, we are going to lose some poundage before a big vacation that is in the works for May. Beach = fabulousness; Wearing a swimsuit for 7 days = nausea. I think we might launch a blog about our diet/healthy eating adventures. It's an idea-in-process. You'll be the first to know.


8. Natalie may never potty train. She refuses to wear panties or pull-ups and will only sit on the potty chair if she's trying to go #2 (and only if she's in the mood). Seriously? What child learns to pooh on the pot before they potty? Unheard of, I tell ya. That's Natalie. Any tips for potty-training a strong-willed child who quite likes the feel of a bulky diaper on her rear?


9. I have a list of 5 stories/funny things that our kids have said lately. So I promise you'll see (or read) more from me soon.


10. Natalie has been laying on her bed for nearly an hour and a half and will not fall asleep. It could be a long evening.

(I was really done with my list at #9, but then I heard her talking to herself and thought I'd go ahead and round out the list. Everyone knows a good list has 10 items.)

The Post In Which I Ramble About Things

Forgive my impertinence! I left you hanging (Beth!), without any information as to the Fox household's well-being.

Alas, Christopher's sweet sleep lasted just two nights. Since then, he has awoken between 1 and 3 times and usually is moved from his room to the pack n' play in the basement office. Little turkey. We can't leave him in his own room for fear of waking up the girls, whose bedroom is about 3 feet from his. In the basement he gets to cry it out a bit and mom and dad, whose bedroom is directly above said office, get to listen. Joy.

Along with this, someone (whose name I will not divulge, but rhymes with Catalie)taught him that an appropriate wake-up-it's-morning time is 6:00 AM. So sweet of her to share her wisdom with him. Truly, my working mom friends are thinking, "6:00 AM? What is she complaining about?" And you're right. 6 AM is no big deal, in the grand scheme of things, but I'd rather sleep til 7.

Two days in a row last week, Natalie padded into our room at exactly 5:38 AM. Weird, huh? There might be something to that internal clock thing.

We had a snow day yesterday, along with about 100 million other Americans. The conditions were nasty, but somewhat manageable. Dave's boss came by with his plow to clear the end of our driveway where the city plows had thoughtfully blocked us in with about 4 feet of snow. Another item on the we-should-probably-buy list is a Wisconsin-sized snow blower.


Today school was delayed an hour because it was below -15 degrees with the windchill. Apparently that's a rule, according to a "friend" on Facebook. No idea how she knows this bit of information, but she might have made it up to sound like she knows stuff. Either way, we took things slowly this morning and stopped for an extra cuddle or two.


(No clue what is on her finger.)

I think this is possibly the most boring post ever. Sorry about that. I don't have much to share, but thought I'd type for awhile to warm up my fingers.

But now my toes are cold.

So I'm off to find a cozy blanket and a good book. I have almost an hour before we pick up Ally from school and I intend to use it fruitfully.