Calendars

Lamb 1 loves calendars. He also loves clocks but that is another post. Ram's aunt e-mailed that Ram's cousin would like birthday cards for her birthday. His aunt accidentally typed the wrong date for her birthday. Right away, when I told Lamb 1 that her birthday was on Monday, Dec. 18, Lamb 1 corrected me that Monday was December 14. Ram's aunt had to e-mail all the family again with Joshua's correction.
Ram picked up a free pocket calendar a few days ago for Lamb 1. He has had the most fun filling out his calendar with important dates for him. He already has memorized the days of the week our family birthdays are next year. He was so excited because his new calendar has December 2009, all 2010, and it even has January 2011! He is set for the next year. He has written everyone in our family (including grandparents) birthdays and other holidays.
Lamb 1 pointed out to me that Lamb 3's birthday is on Good Friday next year. He's only 2 so he won't know if we celebrate on a different day. We normally just celebrate birthdays as a family, the Lambs have never had a kid birthday party. So it won't really matter this time. With Ram being a pastor, we won't have time for a birthday party until after Easter.
Of course Lamb 1 also pointed out that his baptism birthday is on Easter next year. Lamb 1 said, "I'm so excited that my baptism birthday is on a Sunday and Easter too!"
Lamb 1's love of calendars has been very good for homeschooling. Every morning we write on the calendar the weather (5 degrees F this morning) and major events for the day (today it says school, Papa pastor meeting, Ladies Aid Christmas Party). In Lamb 1's new calendar he wrote nearly all our family names and the holidays only asking how to spell a few words. When I was teaching we had a math meeting every morning and talked about the date, weather, etc. Lamb 1 has done this on his own with his own calendar. He also studied the calendar for each month and how many days that month had. I tried teaching him 30 days hath September...he stopped me and said he already knew how many days were in all the months!

Wordless Wednesday

Can you smell...

the cinnamon rolls? The rule in the house is one a day. I will say, "Not Me" (aka Ewe) ate a lot more than the rule. Lamb 1 asked for walnuts and raisins. Lamb 2 asked for just raisins. They were all delicious! Ram even said they tasted better than my mom's! I think that is because we used walnuts AND raisins AND Costco cinnamon (nice quality and huge enough container that we put plenty of cinnamon on them!). My mom makes great cinnamon rolls. All the ones that we took to the fall festival sold right away.

For your info: Lamb 2 has on underwear under his apron. I don't know what happened to his pants! Probably he took them off after playing outside and they never got put back on. I noticed Lamb 1 has outgrown those sweatpants-time to get out the next size! We were so busy baking that I didn't notice this until I looked at the photos!

I caught the Lambs...

Tonight we were late getting to bed after a long afternoon at the county fair, making supper, and taking baths. The Lambs were upset with me because there was no time to read books. Their bedtime is 8pm and they didn't get to bed until 9:30pm. I sent them to do one more thing to get ready for bed. They didn't do it. I caught Lamb 1 "reading" the best he could to Lamb 2. They were so cute sitting in my chair just like I read to them. But they were told to do one more thing and then go to bed. Since they didn't do that, they were in trouble. I hate being a mean mom when they do something like this and are so cute!
We have had a busy weekend. Yesterday evening we finished going to the rest of the parks for that program that ends on Tuesday. Today we went to the county fair and Lamb 1 participated in his first tractor pull, Lamb 3 looked like he was going to win the diaper derby but another girl beat him, and everyone enjoyed petting the animals and all the other fun at the fair. Tomorrow we have church, a parade to watch in the afternoon, and at 7pm one of our senators is calling for a tele-conference about health care reform. Plus we were given a huge bag of corn yesterday and somehow I have to find time to deal with that. Finally, I have to try to get our photos together and make up books for the boys for the park program by Tuesday. The Lambs have all had a lot of fun and lots of fresh air, but too many late nights. I'm already dreading tomorrow morning to get up for church.

Getting organized

On Tuesday we went shopping and much of what we bought was to help me get "stuff" organized (tubs, plastic drawer carts, etc.). I am trying very hard to clean out things and get organized as much as possible in August. Whatever I get done now will make life much easier when we start homeschooling Lamb 1 in September. I have several bags organized (for where it goes- Seminary, Goodwill, to my parents, to Ram's parents, etc.) and filled ready to give away. I am just getting stuff organized now and I hope to go through all this again next summer and give more away then.

Here's some of what I've accomplished organizing in the last few weeks:
*videos and DVDs according to these categories-Ram's, Ewe's, Lambs, Misc., and family camcorded.
*Lamb puzzles
*1/2 way done organizing desk/computer area-still have my huge stash of cards/stationary to go through
*Lamb book box in living room and 2 Lamb bookshelves in their closet
*Lamb 1 and 2 toy box
*Lamb 3 toy box
*Lamb games
*Lamb little parts (like Fisher Price people) that Lamb 3 isn't allowed to have
*All 3 Lamb clothes that currently fit them (with the exception of pajamas-haven't done those yet)
*Several tubs of clothes that all 3 Lambs have outgrown, a few tubs of clothes that are clothes for the Lambs to grow into
*2 tubs of toys that were either mine when I was little or toys that the Lambs will grow into but aren't ready for them yet
*baby blankets
* Thoroughly cleaned small bathroom and organized cupboard in there
*Started organizing recipe books and recipes-never finished-probably won't finish it before I die!
*My skirts and dresses
*plastic 3 drawer cart with homeschool books and supplies-one drawer each for Lamb 1 and 2, and Ewe

I still have tons more that I want to organize and then I want to clean the rooms really well too. I also made a schedule for our family and one thing I put in the schedule for me is 1 hour of declutter time each day. I have lots more to organize in the main bathroom cupboards, kitchen, and my clothes. Lamb 1 LOVES to clean and organize. He wishes he could skip rest time every day and help me. He is annoyed when I do some of the organizing without him. He decided to clean out his Matchbox cars the other day because he was running out of room in his car case. He choose about 6 cars to give away and organized all the rest.

It is clear to me that we have far too much stuff in every area of the house! This is the first step for me, to organize it. The next step will be to go through it more thoroughly and give away more. Part of this is a blessing. Ram's mom and the church members are very generous to us especially for Lamb toys and clothes and books. We don't buy the Lambs hardly any of that. That's a blessing. But when it gets out of control and not organized we either can't find things or don't use what we have because we have so much. Since Lamb 1 was born 5 years ago it has become way out of control. So that's why I'm working on organizing it.

Dental visit

Lamb 1 has caps on his teeth so he goes to a pediatric dentist 3 hours away. When Lamb 2 turned 2 we began taking him to the same dentist. They had an appointment the beginning of May, but the dentist canceled it due to a death in his family. Yesterday was the first opening for them.
Good news-the areas of Lamb 1's mouth that the dentist has been concerned about since he got caps on his teeth are very healthy! He had a few areas (not where the caps were) that we were told to brush extra well and they looked good to the dentist.
Extra great news-Lamb 1's bottom front teeth are starting to get loose. We didn't notice it, but the dentist did. After the bottom front teeth fall out, then the top front teeth will. We're getting closer to being done with caps. That means we're getting closer to allowing sticky foods like lollipops again. It has been difficult to say no to Lamb 1 for things like Rice Krispie treats.
More good news-Lamb 2's teeth looked good as always.

Lamb 1's godfather

Lamb 1's godfather, Latif Gaba, was made a LCMS deacon at a church service on June 15 at Holy Hill monastery. Lamb 1 wasn't sure about having his photo taken without any other Lambs in the photo.

Lamb 1 with his godparents, Ruth and Latif Gaba.

The group of pastors. Ram is in the back, third from the right.

Vacation

We are leaving after Ram is done with church tomorrow for WI for most of the week. At the beginning of the week, Ram will see his friends (along with some mutal friends) and I will see my friends (along with some mutal friends) later in the week.
Today was very busy getting everything packed to go. I was still behind on laundry from when I was on crutches and I couldn't go to the basement easily. The Lambs are too young to help any more than packing some toys for the car. Lamb 1 was exhausted after VBS this week and late bedtimes. He took a nap and he NEVER takes a nap. He was a grouch after the nap. He said, "I don't want to go on a trip where we drive all day only stopping for bathroom, food, and gas breaks! That's no fun! I want to stop and buy a toy." We had a little chat and he isn't happy about the long car ride, but he's excited to have a chance to play with kids his age when we get there. And we may just stop and buy a toy to surprise him too.
Gasp-we don't have a DVD player for the car, nor do we have a laptop! So the poor Lambs will have to read and play with toys in the car instead of watch movies. And I won't be checking e-mail or blogging this week.
See you next week-well at least for a few days before out next vacation...

VBS

None of our churches in our tri-parish have VBS. Ram has had a very busy week so he only helped with VBS the first night at an LCMS church 15 miles away. This church is where most of our members go to VBS. I chose to take the Lambs to a LCMS church 7 miles away this year. They are doing the CPH GADGET program this year. I knew I was in trouble when we walked into church and Lamb 1 was afraid of the inflatable robot. I'm still hobbling around on my sore foot (although I am wearing tennis shoes now and no crutches any more). Lamb 3 just wants to run and not stay any where. He screams when you don't let him run. I asked for Lamb 1 and 2 to be in the same class. Lamb 2 cried a little the first night, cried more the second night, and refused to go to any activity with his class the third night. Picture me hobbling around, trying to chase Lamb 3, trying to calm Lamb 1 down from being afraid of everything new, and trying to convince Lamb 2 to attend class without crying. By the third night, I told Lamb 2 he could either go to class or sit on a chair, but he wasn't allowed to play in the nursery with Lamb 3. He chose to sit on a chair. He sat very nicely until I realized he had found a pencil and colored the wall.
I only expected them to attend the story time without me and figured it would be fine to take Lamb 3 with me to snacks, art, music, and games. The snacks are tied into the program and they are cute, but not much food for my boys. So they either eat them fast and then want to run around without anything to do, or they are the only ones that actually eat the snacks so they take forever to eat them. They complain they are hungry the rest of the night too. They do ok at art, but the projects are too hard for them and they need lots of help. I try to help both of them while I'm holding Lamb 3. Lamb 2 ate some colored sand during art on the third night. The music is way too hard for them, I wish they would have simple refrains from hymns. So they keep getting out of their seats and running around and don't sing during music. I spend the entire music time chasing one of them and trying to get them to participate. And out of 3 nights of games, they only enjoyed and participated one night. The other two nights, they ran around the basement but didn't participate. We try to get the Lambs to bed at 8pm and we don't even get home from VBS until 9pm and then we have to do the bedtime routine.
Ram had a funeral visitation tonight after a very long day yesterday driving to the Twin Cities (4 hours one way) visiting someone in the hospital. I was worn out from being a single parent yesterday and their bad behavior at VBS. So we decided to skip VBS tonight. Lamb 1 complained for a little bit this afternoon, but never spoke of it again tonight. Lamb 2 didn't say anything. We'll try again tomorrow night as it is the last night.
I think Lamb 2 is too young for VBS. Lamb 1 would have a fit if he had to go without Lamb 2. Hopefully next year will go better.

Wordless Wednesday

Sometimes the small deeds add up to mean a lot

The night that we heard our church member died and Ram would have the funeral tomorrow, I laid in bed thinking about him. When I was pregnant with Lamb 1, he gave us a ham for Christmas and wrote the nicest note with it. He told me to take care of myself because I was growing his pastor's child in my womb and he was keeping the baby and me in his prayers.
The tri-parish had a baby shower for Lamb 1 when he was a few weeks old. This man came to the baby shower. At first I think he was a little embarrassed as he was the only man there besides Ram. Then I think he really enjoyed it-the meal they served and the fellowship with the women.
Then after Lamb 1 was a few years old, he heard that Lamb 1 liked pickles. So very often he gave us homemade pickles. Last fall his children made him give up driving at age 88. One of the last trips he made was to our house to deliver pickles to us. After that when Ram visited him he gave us more pickles.
The Lambs never became close to him like an adopted grandpa or even as close as they have become to some of our other church members. But I think this man had it right-treating the pastor's family with respect and doing what he could do for us in small ways.

Our family stats

Ewe's stats:
35 years old
tonsils out
tubes in ears twice
wisdom teeth out
no broken bones
one sprained elbow (I couldn't open up my Valentine's in kindergarten!)
one minorly sprained foot about 8 years ago
one majorly sprained foot now-first time using crutches

Ram's stats:
34 years old
one broken toe
kidney stones
2 wisdom teeth out

Lamb 1 stats:
5 years old
one spiral fractured leg
caps on 4 front teeth

Lamb 2 stats:
3 years old
no broken bones

Lamb 3 stats:
almost 14 months old
no broken bones

Lamb 2's birth story

In honor of Lamb 2's birthday tomorrow, I am posting his birth story today.

During the pregnancy, the blood tests came back positive for Down Syndrome. We went to the Twin Cities for a level 2 ultrasound that didn't tell us any more. At this ultrasound we found out we were having a boy and we told people that wanted to know, but we didn't tell everyone.

My water broke about 3 am and we headed to the hospital 45 minutes away. Lamb 1 came just one hour after we arrived at the hospital so I wanted to go immediately for Lamb 2. We waited and waited and walked the halls until about 11:30am when they finally said I was far enough along to get in the tub for a water birth. I wasn't prepared for this long in labor after Lamb 1 came so soon. I was bored just walking the halls and waiting. Ram read a book most of that time. For Lamb 2 I had tested positive for strep B so I needed IV antibiotics when I first got to the hospital and then every 6 hours. The midwife had told me with my first birth being so quick that I would probably just need one dose. Wrong. The first dose was easy. By the second dose the last thing I wanted to do was to lay still on my back until the whole IV bag was in me! I now know why we want to labor any way besides on our backs. The only drugs I took for Lamb 2's birth were these antibiotics.

I got in the tub about 11:30am. They were in the middle of beginning a total renovation of the hospital. So I was in the tub with lots of banging and drilling and knocking down walls. The birth room with a tub was very small. The midwife laughed and said that all this noise would be worth it for future babies and their mamas to have better birth rooms. I didn't know at the time that she was right and I would have Lamb 3 in one of those beautiful new birth rooms.

I really felt like Lamb 2 was stuck the entire time I was in the tub. Finally the midwife told me to try a different position. I was in the middle of getting up on my knees when Lamb 2 decided to come out. The midwife caught him from behind. She says she will always remember his birth because he was the only baby that she caught in that position. (Maybe since he was born she has caught another one like that, but I doubt it.) He was born at 1pm. (I know I shouldn't complain because my labor was only 3am-1pm, but this was my longest even if it was uneventful!)

He was healthy- 7 lbs 7 1/2 oz; 19 1/2 inches. He was born one day before his due date. He was both my heaviest and shortest lamb.

I had a really hard time adjusting to two lambs. Lamb 1 then- dairy problems (MSPI), not potty trained at all, not talking at all (soon after Lamb 2 was born we had him evaluated by the school system), still had a pacifier at night, and still slept in our room. There are 2 years and almost 3 months between the first two lambs. I remember sitting in the house crying most of the day on the 4th of July, because I just couldn't get myself together and get everyone dressed by noon to go to the town potluck. Plus Lamb 2 did not sleep well at night (during the day he did ok) until we got the bright idea at 2 months old to take him to the chiropractor. He slept great after his adjustment at the chiropractor. We had taken Lamb 1 to the chiropractor from the beginning so I don't know why we didn't think of it for Lamb 2. So the first 2 months with 2 Lambs was terrible, but we survived.

Lamb 2 had a very easy-go with the flow-attitude that he still has today. I was thankful for this because Lamb 1 demanded so much from me.

Lamb 2 was born Memorial Day weekend so the hospital had different staff than normal. My midwife still was there for me and the small town hospital took good care of me, but it wasn't as much attention as normal. In some ways this was good. At night, the nurses took turns holding Lamb 2 and let me sleep from 10pm-4am (which was really nice after getting up at 3am the night before). And Lamb 2 got a lot of attention from the nurses. Ram was supposed to have Ascension Day service in the evening after Lamb 2 was born, but he canceled.

Lamb 2 was born with red hair that has lightened up quite a bit now to blond. Lamb 1 was a great brother and Lamb 1 and 2 are very close. We would have been happy with either sex, but I was very glad to have two boys in a row to be brothers and play together.

Happy Baptism Birthday, Lamb 1!

Lamb 1 with his godparents and parents

Go, My children, with My blessing, Never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you: You are My own.
In My love's baptismal river I have made you Mine forever.
Go, My children, with My blessing-You are My own.
(LSB 922:1)

Ties

Lamb 1 loves to wear ties to church. Most of his are clip on. He received a real tie for Christmas from Ram's parents. We asked some church members to help him tie it. They were unsuccessful. Ram wears clerical collars so he doesn't know how to tie a tie. Neither do I. Finally this past weekend Ram's dad tied it for him. Here he is in his real tie that is too big for him.

Lamb 2 wants to be just like his brother and wear ties to church now too. He had a Christmas tie but he got it dirty a few months ago. We asked Ram's mom to get him a tie. She found a cute outfit at Target. When I went to put the tie on him, it has a loop that goes around the button, it is not clip on or real. I don't think this tie will last very long for a 2 1/2 year old. Plus it is a pain to put on him and it doesn't stay straight.

Here's a photo of them thrilled to be wearing their new ties.
Those of you with boys, where do you buy ties for them? I always hit that section first at Once Upon a Child. Any other good places to shop for boys ties?

Happy Birthday Lamb 1!

Ram with Lamb 1 at the hospital when he was just a few hours old

Ewe with Lamb 1 on his due date (he was born a week early)

Lamb 1 on his first birthday

Lamb 1 vacuuming with his present he received for his second birthday

Lamb 1 shoveling on his third birthday

Lamb 1 the firefighter on his fourth birthday

We love you Lamb 1. We hope you have a great day!

5 Years Ago

In honor of his birthday tomorrow, I thought I would post Lamb 1's birth story.

I had extreme morning sickness and was even hospitalized in September. We called the midwife about 10pm on March 4. From what I described, she said it sounded like Lamb 1 would be born in a few days. I woke Ram at 5am on March 5. We left at 6:30am. Snow was bad and it took 2 hours to get to the hospital (it should have been a 1 1/2 hour drive). The first time I was checked I was dilated 9 3/4 cm! The nurse said, "Get the midwife over here fast!" Thankfully she lived in town and she made it quickly. We had to wait until the water in the tub was body temperature. I finally was able to get in the tub. Lamb 1 was born about an hour later. The nurses couldn't believe Lamb 1 was born so soon, especially since he was the first child! Lamb 1 had a knot in his cord. Nurses came from all over the hospital to check it out.

Lamb 1 was my first water birth. He was born during his last scheduled prenatal appointment. He was born exactly one week early. He was born on March 5, 2004 at 9:34am. He was 6lbs 13 oz and 20 inches. I didn't take any drugs for his birth.

Our journey with a baby that NEVER slept was just beginning. When he was two months old he was hospitalized and finally given the diagnosis of MSPI (Milk soy protein intolerance). I continued breastfeeding and changed my diet. He slowly improved and very slowly gained weight. Tomorrow he will be 5 years old and he can finally tolerate moderate amounts of dairy.

Because of his MSPI, I was exhausted and didn't feel like I was caught up until he turned 2. I feel cheated because I don't have some of the baby memories of Lamb 1 that I have with my other Lambs. I think this is unusual because usually you remember more about your firstborn before you have more children. I was definitely in survival mode his first few years of life. Thankfully he has outgrown this and we get to experience life with a five year old beginning tomorrow. There definitely aren't dull moments around the house when Lamb 1 is home!

What we'll be eating a lot of this week

These cupcakes and balloons were from his Sunday School teacher. There are only 4 children in Sunday School so she makes a big deal of their birthdays.

More on Ash Wednesday

This afternoon (Ash Wednesday), Lamb 1 asked, "Mama are you excited about tonight?" I had to answer yes, because we were having church and communion. But he wondered if I was excited to receive ashes because we only do that once a year.

A little later Lamb 1 came up with this on his own..."Mama, do you know we are getting ashes tonight just like 'Ring Around the Rosy...Ashes, Ashes, we all fall down'."

After all that, Lamb 1 refused to get ashes when the time came. Lamb 2 wanted them and received them. I told Lamb 1 he could still get them tonight from Ram if he changed his mind, but not tomorrow. When he got into bed he said, "I didn't get ashes this year, but I'll get them next year."

Do other PK's do this?

Lamb 1 and 2 are currently getting supplies out to pretend to burn ashes just like Ram did. They just finished discussing if they could receive ashes anywhere else besides their foreheads. I answered no, we receive them on our forehead just like we received the sign of the cross on our forehead when we were baptized.