low

Last night was rough. As soon as we had come downstairs after putting the kids down, Iris began to wail. And she continued to wake herself that way throughout the night- at least seven times while Mike and I were still awake. Sometimes, she'd quiet down on her own, but other times, a rub on the back and sip of water usually did the trick. We moved Abigail out of the girls' room to our floor so she'd at least get a good night's rest, and Mike decided he'd sleep on the couch and listen to the monitor so I could turn the white-noise machine and possibly get some sleep myself. I continued to hear her over that (sometimes, though well-intentioned, my love is a super-heavy sleeper- it's okay, honey. I love you.), and after I went to bed around 11, I was up with her no fewer than eight times, the poor doll. She seems to be suffering from a bad cold, a lot of congestion and consequently some strained breathing. After having to take Jack to the ER for breathing troubles three years ago, I worry a great deal when I hear those wheezy, labored breaths.

:(

This morning, after a miserable night's sleep, I was at least glad to see 7:36 on the clock when I awoke, which meant that everyone had slept in a bit. But that meant we had to hurry to get Jack fed and ready for school. We can't have hooky days every day.

I rushed downstairs to wake Mike, but he continued to lie there on the couch, looking around, yet unresponsive to me. So I immediately knew he had a dangerously low blood sugar. I popped some gummies we had on hand into his mouth and tried to get him to sit up to drink some OJ, but he just kept looking bewildered and taking in startled breaths of air every time I tried to prop him up myself. So I fetched a straw. No good. He couldn't figure out how to use it. Finally, I got him to sit up and sloppily drink the juice. I pulled his tester out of his jeans pocket and pricked his finger to test his blood sugar: 33 (it should be around 100). I got him to drink another glass and a half of juice, and he finally came around enough for me to leave to take Jack to school.

Ever since Mike started going to a new (and ever so much better) doctor last summer, I've been so proud of him for being more on top of his diabetes care. He's had considerably lower numbers, and thus, a much healthier A1C (the average blood glucose level over the past 2 to 3 months). But taking better care of himself also means that he's been low a lot more often (less damaging in the long-run than when he's high). I've awakened a couple of nights in the past few months to hear him grinding his teeth or groaning, which is always scary, but at least I can help him to get some carbs asap. It's alarming to me that he wasn't beside me where I could hear him last night and potentially catch his low blood sugar a lot sooner. I think his insulin dosage needs to be adjusted a little bit, as this has been happening all too often. I won't be sleeping apart from him any time soon, I'll tell you that much.


I'm listening to REM's Out of Time, and "Low" is coincidentally playing right now.

Yarn Along- Ktrek

From 02/01/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

I'm making slow progress on my Ktrek, but it's progress, none the less. I've been wanting to read this book for a while now and am finally getting to it now that I just finished Breathe: Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life (which -- appropriately, for a book about slowing down-- took me the better part of a year- ha!).

I'm joining Ginny's Yarn Along fun...

new slippers

From 01/30/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

Jack with his new fish slippers tonight.


snippets from the day:

"Mom, do you know why I love my new slippers so much?"..."Because they're sooo soft inside."
"I'm going to wear these slippers all the time. I'm never going to take them off."
"These are the thing I wanted most in the whole world! Thank you so much!"
At bedtime, parading in front of Iris' room while I read her a bedtime story, "Don't you want to take a picture of me and my new slippers?" Of course, sweet boy.
"Mom? Can I sleep in my new slippers?"

For as much as this child is appalled by having to wear socks, he sure loved those new slippers (which he's been requesting ever since he lost one of the pair he got for Christmas 2010).

snowdayyy!

From 01/20/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

From 01/20/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

From 01/20/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

From 01/20/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

From 01/20/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

From 01/20/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

From 01/20/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

From 01/20/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

From 01/20/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

From 01/20/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

From 01/20/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

From 01/20/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

Our morning kick-started with a wake-up call at six am. Fortunately, it was the good news that Brookline Regional Catholic had a two-hour delay, which meant that Jack had no school. Unfortunately, that meant that everyone was up. At six am.

Our morning was leisurely... Jack was never more excited about hot breakfast. I overheard him talking to his bunny, "There's one person who makes the BEST steel cut oats in the world! It's my mom." We sadly saw Mike off a little after 8:30, at which time we began readying ourselves for playing outside in the two or so inches of snow that came yesterday evening... but we took it. Thirty-two minutes and a ransacking of our closets, basements and attic for winter gear later, we headed out the door into the freezing cold. I'm surprised I managed to outfit them all-- Abigail in a pair of Jack's waterproof pants, Jack in very snug snow bibs, all of them in wrongly sized boots, but they were dressed. For snow. Ten minutes after we came out, Iris was eager for a morning nap (the poor child was miserable, stumbling around in the white stuff, of which she was not a fan-- "Yuck! EeeeYuck!"). The others played for an hour or so before the promise of hot chocolate lured them indoors... their mother was getting cold and pouty.

They're currently playing "Beach," and taking breaks from laying on their towels to run laps around the first floor... burning up, as usual, requesting to put on shorts and short sleeves. And I'm freezing with the gush of breeze they're creating with each lap, sipping on my mug of hot tea. Iris continues to doze.


I'm looking forward to weekly "in-date" night with the man of my dreams tonight. And thankful for our new dishwasher, which I just started for the first time, that we were able to replace our old, leaky one without a worry of money... and for a climate with drastically different seasons.

competitive mothering

While I'm re-posting articles that have resounded with me lately, here's another thought provoking read (When mean girls become mommies). I'll admit, I've been on both sides of this article. I have at times cast thoughtless judgments. And I have spent all too much time being concerned with the opinions of others, trying to justify my actions. And why? If we are consumed by the scrutiny of others and forget our acceptance (and all-consuming love) with God, we'll drive ourselves 'round the bend (or at least to lost sleep). I have. Wouldn't it be a wondrous thing if we all (myself included) supported each other in our motherhood and accepted that there are countless valid and effective ways of parenting (and living, in general) that vary vastly from family to family, situation to situation?

I was reminded of this--

"Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene... Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness..."

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

~Timothy 2:14-26

...and here, a snippet from scripture on the uselessness of concern for silly things...

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

~Matthew 6:25-34

For mothers with only one child...

...or two or three, or any number of children...

this is a worthwhile read.

don't take our money

After I got off the phone with a telemarketer today, Jack asked who it was.

Not really thinking, I replied, "Just somebody who wants to take our money."

He seemed very concerned and said, "That's not very nice. What did he say? I'm going to make a sign that says 'No taking our money.'" And he promptly set to work doing so.

Yarn Along

From 01/18/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

My sister gave me this gorgeous homespun yarn for my birthday last year, and I've finally made up my mind on what to knit with it-- this Krtek scarf. I like how it looks knobby/cable-y without cables (not that I mind them), and it echos the varying thicknesses in the yarn. Knitting has been so relaxing for me lately on these confined winter days. I have been loving sitting down with my tea and needles during nap time, catching up on some shows or audio books.

A good friend and mentor (and my sponsor when I became Catholic) recommended and gave me The Five Love Languages a few years back. Mike and I only started reading it a couple of months ago out of curiosity and a desire to read something new together, and we're almost done. Neither one of us fits neatly into one language, but we don't overlap on any of them. Needless to say, we've both been making extra efforts to speak the other's "languages," and I've never felt more blessed by or in love with this man- courtship included. The guy makes my stomach do flip flops... know what I mean?

I'm joining Ginny's Yarn Along.

From 01/18/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

Unrelated-- I didn't have time to adjust my camera at all, but here are the girls (ballerina-clad), watching our Christmas tree meet its demise this morning. Finally moving on...