Christmas Eve Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve to you all!  I hope your holidays have been ever so merry thus far.  Our days have been full and nothing short of busy.  I am looking forward to a string of days off of work to rest and recuperate!  I will work on Christmas Eve, and after that, I am off until New Year's Eve!  These are days that I typically never take off of work, so it will be a nice change to wake up each day and drink a whole cup of coffee before I have to go anywhere. 

Notice that I didn't say "sleep in" at all.  I know that won't happen.  Michael is a 6:00am on the dot kind of guy.  Hopefully, with careful monitoring of blood sugar, he can sleep in a little bit on his break from daycare.  I'm hoping that Noah can sleep in some, as well, since he is usually the one I'm having to wake up to get ready for school.  It would be nice to let these little boys get some needed rest and recover from the colds that they are still carrying around. 

Yesterday, we got a nice surprise at home.  Aaron got off earlier than expected and got down our remaining Christmas decorations!  (Yes, we really did wait until December 22nd to do so-- unintentionally).  He hung up our stockings and extra ornaments on the tree, he set up some additional Nativity people (shepherds and angels), he strung some lights on the bushes out front (the first time we've ever hung up lights at our house), he put the tree-skirt around the tree, and arranged some presents underneath, and the most meaningful thing of all to one certain two-year-old was the establishment of the Christmas Star on top of the tree.  :)  We currently live in a Winter Wonderland.  Just these few added decorations make our home feel so much more cozy and Christmasy. 

I have been enjoying my time in the morning by watching some Hallmark and ABC Family Christmas movies.  Sure, they're cheesy but cute just the same.  And they all have a certain way of filling me up with the warmth of the season.  So far, I have watched "Christmas Under Wraps" with Candace Cameron Bure, and "Holiday in Handcuffs" with Melissa Joan Hart.  I love "A Season for Miracles" and I'm hoping to catch it on Hallmark sometime this week.  I recorded "Unlikely Angel" with Dolly Parton, but I was really hoping that I could find an airing of "Smoky Mountain Christmas" somewhere.  Now that movie has a theme song that can get stuck in your head!

Aaron and I have watched "The Santa Clause" (we only like the first one), "Christmas With the Kranks," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" with Jim Carrey, and "Home Alone" thus far.  I'm hoping to watch "A Christmas Carol" (the animated one with Jim Carrey), "Home Alone 2," and my ultimate ultimate favorite:  "Prancer."  And, if you're a "Prancer" buff like I am, you'll know that today is the best day to watch that movie because Jessica Riggs has to get Prancer back to Santa on December 23rd-- which is today!  Perfect day to watch the movie. 

In other news, our dishwasher decided that it was skipping Christmas this year, and about 99.2% of the time it decides that it's not going to fully communicate within itself and let us start a load of dishes, even when it's in the locked and loaded (pun intended) position. So, I've been experiencing the pioneer days (joking) by hand-washing all of our dishes.  In the dishwasher's defense, we bought it on clearance in August of 2013, so it's served a good run.  We have researched dishwashers via "Consumer Reports" and have picked out what we will replace ours with.  We plan to go get this new addition later on this week, or on New Years Eve after I get off work since Aaron is off that day.

Now, lunch break is over and I must return to work.  After the completion of this work day and the errands I have to run after work (assuming that Aaron gets off early and gets the boys-- if not, no errand running for me) I get to go home and relax in the glow of Christmas tree lights, until tomorrow when I return to work. 


Oh, and for a little Christmas cheer, here is the main picture we used for our Christmas cards:

Yes, they are as cute as they look!  I am so blessed to be their Mommy!


Merry Christmas Eve Eve!!!

Until Next Time,

Much Love,
Reba

Why? (ie, a nearly forgotten post found on my notepad)

**While rummaging through the contents of my phone's "Notes" app, I found this partially written post.  Rather than finishing it, I'm leaving it as is.**

There are times I still catch myself asking "why? Why us? Why him? He's so young."

Usually these are times when I'm looking at the clock and trying to decide if we can make it to the grocery store and get back home before it's snack time. Or it's when I'm putting his Humalog carrying case in his backpack. Or it's when I'm eating dinner an hour and a half after he does, and he asks me for a bite and says "I like taste. Just one bite?" And I have to fish out carrots & celery to give him some "free" bites. Sometimes it's when I drop him off at day care and other kids are running around with their plastic snack cups filled with cereal-- something Michael was doing just days before his diagnosis. It's times like these when I feel that lump start to form in my throat.

It's times like these when I think that other kids have it easy. Their parents don't worry about whether or not they should eat a snack before bed-- my kid requires one. Their parents don't have to think about how long it's been since their child ate his last bite of food. In the middle of the night when they cry, their parents don't worry if they're crying because their blood sugar is low. When they want a bite of their parent's bowl of ice cream, the parent probably doesn't think twice before holding out the spoon. At breakfast time when the oatmeal is waiting on the counter, their parents don't seek out ways to entertain them for 15 minutes as they wait to recheck a blood sugar after correcting a low.

And I'm not angry at any of these parents nor their children. They can't help it that they don't have type 1. I'm just saddened that these carefree moments have been stripped from us. Everything must be so carefully planned out now.

Noah: 11 Months

Dearest Noah,

Goodness gracious, how does time fly!  I can't believe that you'll be one year old next month!  You are such a small little guy that it's hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that you're quickly growing up! 

You are spunky, determined, inquisitive, mischievous, and funny.  You know what you want and you will stop at nothing to get it!  Remote controller? No problem! Dog hair in your mouth? Bring it on!  You are a lightning speed crawler and you quickly get to whatever it is you are seeking out.

You're totally still in your "only Mommy" phase.  This simultaneously melts my heart and breaks it.  I so desire for you to always want to cuddle me, but I also don't mind admitting that it would be nice to hand you over to your dad, or uncle, or grandma, or grandpa without a cascade of tears and loud cries. I know that someday I will read over this post with gobs of tissues in my hands and sobbing at the fact that you are more interested in playing with legos or nerf guns than cuddling your Mommy.

You can still wear 9-month onesies and pants.  The pants are getting a little short, but your waist is still so small that 12-month pants don't particularly stay on you very well.  I am busy transitioning out your 9-month clothes and incorporating 12-month clothes.  It's so odd to me to have a baby who wears clothes that are sized at a number less than his age!  You are so cuddly and cute and small that it makes it that much harder to think that you'll be one next month!

You wear size 4 diapers-- Costco brand during the day and Huggies Overnight at bedtime.  You have a bit of a cough right now, but most nights you sleep from 6:30p.m. until I wake you at 6:30a.m. to get ready for "school."  On the weekends, and other days when you're not in "school", you can sleep until 7:30 or even 8:30 and I totally let you. 

You are a very jovial baby. You are always looking for ways to make people smile. I absolutely LOVE this characteristic!  You're our dancer baby.  You groove along to the music in the car or on TV shows, movies, or commercials.  You'll pause mid-crawl to give a little shake if you really like the song.  "If You're Happy and You Know It" is your jam.  This song was made for you!  You can rock it out by clapping twice at the appropriate times and you wiggle wiggle wiggle during the rest of the song.  As soon as you hear this song, your face lights up and you sport a huge grin-- you react this way to this song even if you're sick!

You had your first ear infection this month at the same time as your brother.  You didn't much care for your anti-biotic and I didn't care for the poopy diapers that accompanied it.  We were both elated when you took your last dose of the medicine, and your ears seem to be all better!  You currently have a little bit of a cold with a pesky cough that won't quite leave you alone.  Hopefully over the Christmas holidays, you'll fully recover.

You have two top teeth now, but they aren't totally visible to everyone-- only to those with whom you care to share your secret by leaning back very far and opening your mouth. :)  You like to view the world from the upside-down perspective when I hold you on my lap.

You love the Christmas tree and particularly like holding onto the non-breakable ornaments I hand to you to keep you entertained during diaper changes or when I just want to hold you in my lap to keep you from finding dog hair and putting it in your mouth.

Noah, you are sweet, funny, and endearing.  I love you to pieces.  You are a great little brother to Michael and you are just the humorous little guy that we need in our lives when diabetes brings gray clouds.  You're the sunshine and you've always got a smile to share.

I pray you seek Jesus earnestly and always.  You can be a wonderful reflection of the light that He gives.  Your kindness and humorous attitude will be ever-needed in this world.  I love you, Noah dearest.  Thank-you for your constant smiles and the laughter you provide.

Love, Mommy




Until Next Time,

Much love,

Reba

Decor in Pictures

Here's a photo update of our current Christmas decorations:

Here's our tree, though not completely decorated yet, and not with the tree-skirt or tree topper since those things are still up in the attic along with our remaining ornaments.  Tonight we plan to bring all of the ornaments down from the attic to sort through even though we won't put them all on the tree.  In the background you can see the paper-chain garland and the Nativity Set.  Most of the characters of the Nativity Set are still up in the attic as well, but should be joining the group tonight.  We set up the tree as Michael ate his bedtime snack.  This is what he said "Oooohhhh!  Wow!!! Christmas tree! Yights! Is that my Christmas tree, guys?"  So cute.  Noah was mesmerized by the Christmas tree this morning! I think it was the first time he's seen one.  :)  Here's what we have so far:

Here's the Christmas Tree Advent Calendar and the accompanying sticker ornaments sheet hanging on our fridge:

Here is the fabric Nativity Advent Calendar and the accompanying Christmas bowl on the counter where the characters reside until it's their turn to join the scene:

So, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our house! This evening, I plan to let the boys watch the Christmas episodes of Wallykazam, PAW Patrol, and Team Umizoomi and, later on, Aaron & I get to watch a Christmas movie by the light of the tree!  Fa la la la laaaaaa la la la laaaa!


Until Next Time!

Much Love, Reba

Christmas Things So Far...

We haven't done a whole lot of decorating yet.  As of right now, we have a construction-paper-chain garland hanging on our mantel.  I made it on Monday night.  It's actually kind of festive and cool since the construction paper has bits of glitter in it.  I chose red, green, and white paper.  Simple, yes, but my children are young and they don't mind. 

Aaron handed the fall-themed paper-chain garland to Michael on Monday night and he said "Wow!  A rope!" and attempted to jump rope with it.  A few minutes later, the paper-chain turned into a snake and Michael had to grunt and work really hard to keep from getting attacked.  Never a dull moment with this two-year-old.

Hanging on the door leading from our kitchen to the laundry room is a Christmas Advent Calendar that my mom is letting us borrow for the holiday season.  It is kid-friendly.  It's a fabric scene of Mary and Joseph in the stable with pasture land around them.  The pasture land is made of felt, and there are velcro squares on certain areas of the cotton fabric.  Hanging below the Christmas scene are 25 pockets in which are shepherds, a dog, sheep, camels, donkeys, cows, Wise Men, gifts, three angels, a star, and Baby Jesus.  Each piece has a velcro square on its back in order to adhere to the felt or other velcro squares on the fabric.  Each day, the child puts a new character on the fabric scene leading up until Christmas Day when Baby Jesus gets put in the manger. I loved playing with this as a tween-- which is around the time in my life that my parents got this.  My two brothers and I would alternate who got to put up the character on each day.  It was fun!  By Christmas Day, the whole fabric scene is filled with people and animals and a star and angels and Jesus!  So fun!  My mom let us borrow it this season since it's an activity that Michael can do that doesn't involve food.  As soon as Michael saw it hanging up, he swiftly removed a camel and a cow.  I knew that leaving all of the characters in their pockets would just be a recipe to having them all disappear at the hands of a curious toddler.  So, at my mom's suggestion, I piled all of the characters in a Christmas bowl and placed it on the kitchen counter out of Michael's reach.  Each day, I will take the appropriate character and place it in its pouch and let Michael put it up on the fabric.  So far, a shepherd and a sheep are in the pasture awaiting the addition of the faithful sheepdog later today.  :)

My Nana gave us a sticker advent calendar.  It's a picture of a Christmas tree, and there's a sheet with it that has an ornament sticker for each day leading up to Christmas Day.  I let Michael put the ornament stickers on for Monday and Tuesday, and I believe a present shaped sticker is tonight's choice.

The rest of our Christmas decorations are up in our attic at the moment, and I can't remember everything that we have.  I'm also convinced that I don't want to use everything that we have since what goes up must come down.  I plan on picking out a few things to display.  The Nativity Set and stockings will join the paper-chain garland on the mantle.  This will be Noah's first Christmas and I'm so excited to hang up his stocking.  I got it on clearance at Target last year after Christmas and it's adorable! I'll use non-breakable ornaments on the tree if we can resist from putting up each and every ornament that we have.  No promises. 

I also came across this cute idea while searching "easy Christmas decorations."  I have a whole container of tiny tin Christmas cookie-cutters and goodness knows we probably won't be using them all this season.  Simply because, who has the time?  I think the container has about 100 Christmas cookie-cutters.  Surely I can spare a few easily identifiable ones to hang in the windows.  I mention "easily identifiable" because my mom has a cookie-cutter of an angel in flight, and each year we twist it around in each direction trying to remember what it is!  So I'll plan to use the bell, star, snowflake and tree shapes.

I'll plan to post pictures after we complete our decorating extravaganza.  I also plan to take a picture of the boys for our Christmas card.  I have an idea in my head that would be simply darling if it works out as planned. :)

Happy decorating to you all!

Until Next Time,


Much love, Reba

Thankful for My Cheffer

A "cheffer" was a term of endearment in my house while growing up.  My little brother invented the term to describe, obviously, a chef.  These days, I have a fantastic cheffer.  None other than my sweet husband. 

This guy is incredible in the kitchen!  He can add dashes and sprinkles of spices and turn any dish into a culinary experience!  He grills, he cooks on the stove top, he makes his own pasta, he makes bread.  This guy can do it. 

As we made our grocery list for this week, we decided that we would have Velveeta Cheesy Skillet on Monday night for dinner.  If you haven't tried a flavor of Velveeta Cheesy Skillet yet, please do so.  It's like Hamburger Helper, except kicked up a notch.  After we returned from the store, we realized that we did not buy a box of Velveeta Cheesy Skillet.  Aaron grabbed ground meat, a box of Velveeta & Shells that was already in our pantry, and he got to work creating Velveeta Cheesy Skillet by hand.  He added mustard of all things to the meat to flavor it since he knew that just adding ground meat and mac-and-cheese wouldn't produce the flavors he was looking for.  Mustard was the ticket!  This dish tasted so good!!!

I know a lot of you out there might be thinking "Ok, seriously, she's raving about her husband making a homemade version of a boxed meal."  And yes, I am.  But that's just because it was what we had for dinner last night and he made it himself.  His skills reach far beyond making a homemade version of a boxed meal.  And if you're wondering why we are eating boxed meals, I have some answers.  Number one, it's food.  Number two, we're on a budget.  I won't rehash that again.  You can thank me later.  Number three, we both grew up eating things like this and it's a version of comfort food for us.  Number four, we do eat meals with fresh ingredients but last night was a Monday night and it was quite deserving of some comfort food. 

This morning, after eventually just biting the bullet and getting out of bed since our youngest hardly let us sleep a wink, Aaron made breakfast burritos.  For Thanksgiving dessert, he made Pumpkin Baklava.  On Saturday, I saw a TV show on which they were eating garlicky pasta and I mentioned how good it looked.  Aaron made homemade pasta with a garlic cream sauce for lunch.  This guy can cook and he's good! 

So watch out all of you Chopped Champions.  My husband can give you a run for your money. 

I just wanted to take a few moments and write about how much he blesses me with his cooking. 

So, if you're reading this, Aaron, I love you and I'm thoroughly enjoying my lunch of left-overs right now. :) 



Until Next Time,

Much love,  Reba

Go Tell it on the Mountain!

Over the hills, streets, avenues, sidewalks, and even on the front steps of the daycare!  Why the daycare, you ask?  Because someone in graciousness paid our daycare tuition for the first two weeks of December!  This is huge!!! And what a blessing!!!
 

Let me share a secret with all of you readers out there—we’re tight.  No, not the “cool dude, we’re tight” kind of meaning (although, I’d like to think we’re cool), but in the “yikes, each dollar is assigned a home and none of them are our address!” kind of way. We’re on a budget, as I’ve mentioned before in this post here.  And, if you know much about me, you know I struggle with money fears.  I know that we have planned out our budget and we have assigned each dollar a home; and at the end of the month, we are still holding a few dollars in our hands, and so it is deemed a success. 

 
But life happens.  Things show up that weren’t in the budget— like ear infections in both boys at the same time, which rings up a simultaneous doctor visit, complete with two copays (for two patients).  So the age-old adage of “two for the price of one” just got reversed.  One doctor appointment for the price of two.  That brought with it two prescriptions.  So, the copay and the prescriptions snatched away the dollars we had remaining that month and two dollars from a month prior when we didn’t end up using every last dollar. 
 
Not to mention, my children got these ear infections during a week when I was on special assignment at work and could take no leave.  That meant the day the boys got sick, Aaron had to take off early to pick up the boys from daycare and get them to the doctor.  Aaron has no accrued leave right now which means that when he’s not at work, he’s not getting paid.  This will change on January 1^st when his leave is restored, but until then, this is our life.  So, he missed out on over five hours of pay on that day.  Over that weekend, he acquired food poisoning and missed work on the following Monday.  Nearly two full work days during that pay period will be missing.  So, not only were we using up the buffer dollars, we were missing out on pay we had counted on. 
 

It’s our policy to not include overtime funds in our budget since these are not funds on which we can hang our hat and depend on.  But, we surely include our normal paycheck amounts in our budget—that’s what budgeting is!  So these dollars that Aaron missed out on were actual dollars that we were counting on to make it, and now we found ourselves without this money and praised God that we had been sliding all overtime funds into our savings account.

 

We chose not to pull over any funds from our savings account into our checking account.  We knew the funds were present if we needed them.  We wrote checks for bills, and ordered more checks to pay future bills.  Funny how those checks just slip away and all we’re left with is a carbon copy of who got money.  I got a little teary-eyed as we slid into the holiday season and I wondered if our boys would have a nice Christmas.  Fortunately, they are very young and won’t mind if they get small trinkets wrapped up as toys.  And they’re not interested in the hot ticket items, which keeps us from battling others to get the items first (as if we’d battle anyone for material things anyways).  But still, in my heart I was a little sad since we’re on such a small budget right around the holidays. 

 

The Thanksgiving holiday passed and our home was warm and filled with family as we hosted Thanksgiving dinner.  We enjoyed the next few days off of work catching up with rest.  On Sunday, I wrote a double tithe check since we were unable to attend church the week prior due to Aaron’s sickness, and the boys’ ear infections, and my schedule to work.  So, I did the math and wrote out the tithe check to cover what we had received during the last two weeks.  When we made our budget, tithes were a total part of it.  I was always taught that God will bless you when you give to Him what is His.  I had heard stories of people encountering missteps and hard times when they chose to hang onto the money that they should have tithed.  We knew in our situation that our budget would only work if we gave to God what He asked of us.  Tithing was a must.  I put the tithe check in the offering plate at the end of church and we headed home for lunch.

Slowly but surely, Monday morning rolled around and we trudged off to our normal lives of work and daycare and laundry and dishes.  Michael woke in such a chipper mood today, as did Noah.  It was so nice to have such pleasant boys to start off this Monday in the right way!  Once I put Michael’s shoes on him and grabbed his jacket, the tears started.  He knew it was time to leave for “school” and he didn’t want to go.  I told him that I knew how he felt, but vacation was over and it was time for school.  I told him he could take all of his blankies with him—he was holding about five. 

He was quiet in the car as Noah bobbed along to the music and I sang and prayed.  When we pulled up to the daycare, Michael began crying again.  I wore Noah in the front-pack, with his diaper bag slung over my left shoulder, and Michael’s lunch bag dangling from my left arm.  I hauled Michael’s backpack with the fresh pack of Pull-Ups over my back, and took up his clean nap-mat under my right arm.  I convinced him to leave three blankies in the car for the ride home this afternoon (and in actuality, it was because I didn’t want him to lose all of his blankies since I knew he had one already in his backpack).  I lifted him from the car and he stood in place as I locked the car door.  Still crying, he asked me to “hold you?” which is what he says when he wants to be held.  So, I heaved him up onto my right hip and we made our way to the daycare doors. 
 

Once inside, his crying got louder.  Now, I’m not sure if that was because he knew we were getting closer to saying good-bye or if it was because we were now inside tiled walls and floors and cries echoed for that reason alone.  I held his hand and talked to him about how fun it was to go to daycare and learn about shapes and numbers and letters.  A dad holding the hand of his probably four year old daughter scurried quickly past us, and the young girl turned around to stare at the pack-mule of a mom and her papoose and crying toddler.  Quite the show. 

 

As we walked past the Director’s office, I gave a genuine smile and said “Good morning!” She started getting up from her desk hastily and said “Good morning, Reba. I have something to tell you. Your tuition for the first two weeks of December…”  (and in that moment I’m thinking ‘Oh no, don’t say that it’s doubled or that I’m late.  I’ve totally paid each and every week.  Oh, wait, today is December 1^st.’)  “…has been taken care of.”  The smile left my face and it was replaced by tears in my eyes, and a lump in my throat.  She saw my change of expression and tears filled her eyes too.  She nodded and said “So, that’s an early December blessing.”  And I said “Wow.  It sure is.  Thank-you.  Thank-you.” 

With teary eyes, I walked Michael to his room.  He cried a bit when I dropped him off, but I’ve since been told that he resumed his normal demeanor shortly afterwards and has been his jovial self all day.  I dropped off Noah and he wasn’t even crying when I left the room.  That was super!  I made my way to work and texted Aaron and my mom to tell them of the gift we were anonymously given. 

The text messages went like this:

 

(My conversation with Aaron)

Me: Walked into daycare today.  Was informed that someone has paid our tuition for the first two weeks of December.  Miracle.

 

Aaron: Wow. Amen.

  

(My conversation with my mom)

Me. Walked into daycare today.  Was informed that someone has paid our tuition for the first two weeks of December.  Miracle.

Mom: You are blessed.  I love those miracles.  And the nice thing about anonymity is that you get to feel good thoughts about lots of people it might be.

Me: Right.  Just wish I could personally thank whoever it was because I’m truly truly grateful and I don’t want to appear ungrateful.

Mom: The blessing makes great blog writing.  Maybe inspire someone to anonymously do something for someone else when they read how your heart was blessed.  And when someone does that in that way, they are not looking for thanks.  They are being cheerful givers.  And what a great testimony to your tithe faithfulness!  As your daddy says “You can’t out give God.”

Me: It brought me to tears when Stacy told me, and then to tears again when I thought that God is really showing Himself and blessing us when we give to Him what is His.

 

Mom: My challenge to you is, as you have opportunity, share your story.  When someone asks you how you are, share your story. 

Me: Thank you.  I will share. I don’t want to seem boastful.  Just very blessed.  Unexpected start to December. :)

Mom: Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.  You are not boasting if you are giving God credit.  Can’t keep the light under the bushel :)

Me: :) good point.  Love you.

 

*****

 

Whoever you are who chose to pay our tuition for two weeks, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you for being obedient to the Lord.  We have truly received a blessing.  The fees we would have paid to daycare can now cover over some of the expenses we accrued during the past couple weeks with copays, prescriptions, missed hours of work, etc.  Some of what we have leftover can be put towards Christmas gifts for the boys.  My heart is so happy that it is totally overflowing in gratitude. 

 

So, to the other readers out there, here’s my challenge to you:  Trust God.  Give to Him what is His.  Trust Him when he lays a need on your heart, and follow in obedience. 

 

This blessing has given me a renewed spirit.  It’s lifted my heart and changed my attitude.  I feel like smiling more and griping less. I am finding that little things today aren’t bothering me as they used to.  It’s incredible what an act of kindness can do to lighten a load and replenish a positive outlook.

  

“Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.”  Mark 12:17

 

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-7

 

‘Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”’ 1 Corinthians 1:31

 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28

 

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15

 

 

 

Whoever you are, thank you again.  You have truly blessed our hearts.  Thank you for your faithfulness to God.  He used you in a mighty way. 

 

 

 

Until Next Time,

 

Much love, Reba