Sick Days

So we have been blessed that, until January, we made it through most of the fall and winter without illness at our house. Since January though, Jackson Bird and Levi Bug have passed the same old cold back and forth, resulting in pneumonia for Bird and RAD for Bug (Reactive Airway Disease = Baby Asthma).  Both boys are on nebulizer breathing treatments multiple times each day, and antibiotics twice a day. Levi also now has a shiny new inhaler that he has to take once a day until summertime. It kinda feels like my days are full of feedings, diapers, potty trips, breathing treatments, and medicine doses. And if I can fit it in, maybe a load of laundry or two. With all the craziness going on, I'm so thankful that these 2 boys have been happy little troopers, even on their sick days.

Bird is usually VERY active and talkative. When he's sick, he's only slightly active, but still talkative.  Right now, he likes to stick close to me and be my little helper. He especially likes helping me keep an eye on Levi, who rolls around and gets stuck under tables, chairs, and couches. Bird is constantly sounding the alarm, "Momma! Weevi is stuck again!" Bird also likes for me to put Levi in his jumparoo so he can read books to him while Levi bounces.

Levi Bug is usually a happy camper, but when he's sick, he's.... still happy. He just likes for his Momma to be close by. Since he wants to be with me wherever I go - even when I do laundry - I just load him up in the basket with the clothes and go!

Bird is feeling MUCH better, but he still coughs when he runs around or plays in the cold weather. So he's had lots of inside time. Good thing he's got an active imagination! In this picture, he and "Weevi"were pirates in their boat catching fish out on the water. He can also be seen walking around the house talking on his phone to his "worker men," giving them directions on how to fix a pipe.  Or you might catch him equipped with his hunting calls around his neck, his boots on his feet, and his shotgun slung over his shoulder briefing Rascal, his "coyote dog," on their next hunting adventure. And his latest and greatest gig is swaggering around the house with his hands in his pockets and new cowboy hat on his head, asking, "Are you hurt? Do you need saving? I'm here to save the day! I'm your Eeyore!." (NOTE: Eeyore means Hero in Bird language.)

If all else fails on a sick day and you just absolutely run out of things to do, dress up your younger brother. It's guaranteed to bring somebody a smile! 

"Weehaw!" As cowboy Jackson says.

Catching Up

I can't believe I haven't blogged since November! Life has just been happening at the speed of light!

It's definitely been challenging to take care of a baby when the 2 year old just wants to go outside!!! Since it's been cold and cloudy, I've had to be creative to come up with ideas to keep Jackson busy and keep me sane! Moonsand (flour and baby oil) has been a great inside activity. Slightly messy, but easily cleaned.

Levi is definitely more laid back than Jackson, and he enjoys jumping in his jumparoo while watching his big brother destroy the house. Lately, Bird has taken more interest in "Weevi" and considers it a personal challenge to find just the right tickle spot to make Levi laugh.

We've finally gotten Bird to sleep through the night in his own room without a fight, but Levi continues to be our little night owl. He doesn't really enjoy napping, and he'd much rather snuggle and drink several bottles than sleep at night. I have discovered, though, that Levi LOVES baby food. He'll eat it by the bowl-full! And the more baby food he eats during the day, the better his reflux is! Just put him in that high chair and he breaks out into a full-faced grin - he knows the grub is comin'!

At 6 months old, Levi's busting out of 12 month clothing, saying "ba ba ba!", sitting up on his own, and rolling around the floor everywhere. Changing his diaper is like roping a calf at the rodeo. It won't be long until he's crawling! Batten down the hatches!

 Jackson Bird is our smart and active almost-3-year-old, and Levi Bug is our happy, happy chubby buddy. We are busy but blessed in the Burns house!

God's Toolbox

Tonight, Jacin gave me an incredible gift: TIME ALONE! After dinner, Jacin played with the boys while I took a hot bath. It was so nice to have some quiet time by myself without someone else following me into the bathroom! When I got out, I threw on a tshirt and shorts and sat down on my bed under the fan for a few minutes. It didn't take long for Bird to find me.

BIRD: Whatcha doin Momma? climbing on the bed with me
ME: I'm sitting here under the fan cooling off.
BIRD: Me too. I hot, too. Whew! wiping his forehead
ME: Ok. You can sit here with me.
BIRD: K. Hey! Whas tat? pointing to a mole on my lower leg
ME: It's just a brown spot on my skin.
BIRD: You need a man-daid? (AKA bandaid)
ME: No, it's not a hurtie. It's just how God made me.
BIRD: Yeah. God made me, too. You know what he has in his box?
ME: What box?
BIRD: God! What he has in his tool box! raising his voice & getting frustrated that I can't understand his question about God's toolbox 
ME: Ohhhh. God's toolbox. No, what's in it?
BIRD: Scissors. They sharp! Not touch it! They just for God. And colors. He colors us, too. Yeah. I go tell Daddy! he jumps off the bed to go tell Jacin about God's toolbox

What an imaginative little guy!

In My Tummy

On the way to preschool the other day, Bird and I had a very interesting conversation about God. It went something like this...

Bird: Momma! See that house? God built it.
Me: Yes! God made everything, that's true.
Bird: Yep. He made me. And he wikes (likes) me!
Me: Oh yeah! God thinks you're awesome!
Bird: Ummhmm. And you know where God wivs (lives)? Up there... Pointing at the ceiling...
He wivs (lives) in heben (Heaven)... Nodding his head, obviously very proud of himself...
Me: You are exactly right!
Bird: Aaaannnd... Pointing to his chest.... he wivs (lives) in my hawt (heart). And in my tummy, too... Patting his tummy
Me: In your tummy? Really?
Bird: Exacy (exactly) right. And a doctor can get him out if he needs to.

Precious and pretty funny. And did you notice that Bird's comments are much more verbose than my responses? That's because the kid talks 90 miles an hour in the mornings. He gets started and just can't stop! It's like he has to make up for the silent hours he spent sleeping! Not sure where he got that...

Our Thankful Tree

Each morning, after I get everyone settled,  I sit down and eat breakfast while I read my Bible. For the last 2 weeks, Bird has been bringing his little Bible to the table and sitting down with me. It's rare for him to sit still for more than a few seconds, so I've been trying to take advantage of this time with him. I've been reading him verses about being thankful, and Thursday I asked him, "What should we thank God for?" Bird replied with quite a long list of the people and things he wanted to thank God for. This made me want to make some sort of visual reminder of all God's blessings. After searching Pinterest for some ideas, I decided to make a Thankful Tree.

Bird and I gathered branches and acorns outside and then traced and cut out paper leaves. When Jacin got home we sat down at the table, read some verses on thankfulness, and let Bird tell us what he was thankful for. As he listed things, I wrote them down on leaves and he hung them on our thankful tree. We wrapped it all up by praying and thanking God for His many blessings. It was a fun and special activity, and Bird loves seeing our Thankful Tree displayed in the kitchen.

Thank you, God, for your many blessings!

Sleep Schedule (yeah, right!)

When Bird was 6 weeks old, he started sleeping through the night. Levi is now 14 weeks old, and I’m still getting up several times each night to feed him. To be honest, I am past ready to sleep for 7 straight uninterrupted hours. To help nudge him towards this sleeping-all-night milestone, I’ve tried to put Levi on a stricter schedule during the day. One popular book suggests feeding the baby every 3 hours and adopting an “eat, play, sleep” schedule for each 3-hour cycle. For the past week, I’ve tried my best to adhere to the “eat, play, sleep” schedule, which (according to the book) produces a content and sweet-slumbering baby.

“How has that worked?” you ask. Well, the majority of the time, the designated “play” time in the schedule looked like this:

 

Obviously one of us isn’t too keen on schedules. After several days of this, I was distraught. I’m doomed! I’m going to be sleep deprived for the rest of my life! This kid is never going to sleep through the night! Crazy thoughts like these ran through my mind each time Levi deviated from the prescribed “eat, play, sleep” schedule, and gradually my exhaustion and (admittedly dramatic) exasperation threatened to push me over the edge. I cried out to God: I’m doing everything right! Why isn’t he sleeping for more than 3 hours at a time, Lord! I just want a normal night’s sleep! Am I a bad Mom because I can’t get my baby to sleep through the night? And in the midst of my silent whining, a verse came to mind and stilled my bitter and frustrated spirit.

Psalm 37:23-24 says, “If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” 

This Scripture promises that when my life pleases God, he will direct and establish each step of my life, planning them out in advance, making them firm, and directing them in accordance with His will. And when (not if) I stumble, I won’t fall or fail because the Lord is the one supporting me and sustaining the path underneath my feet. So maybe I shouldn’t sink into total desperation after all. Perhaps our inability to stick to a strict schedule doesn’t spell complete failure. And perhaps someone bigger (and more sovereign) than me is controlling our schedule each day. Since God is ultimately in control, I think I’ll relax a bit, smile more, worry less, and just shrug it off when things don’t go as scheduled. After all, the Lord is even directing Levi’s steps on the path towards sleeping all night. God is the perfect Father, so I should probably trust His schedule instead of mine.

Lord, help me be patient and flexible as I wait. Remind me that you paint a much bigger picture than I can ever see. Help me to trust you joyfully, even on sleepless nights.  

Thankful

It's the beginning of November, and that means the beginning of the Thanksgiving season! What a great time to stop and take stock of all the many blessings God has given us.

I have SO MANY people and things to be thankful for, but just to name a few...

My Hubby

Yesterday, Jacin celebrated his 33rd birthday. I am so thankful for him and the husband and father he is to our family. It never ceases to amaze me how patient and loving he is, even when I'm crabby and frustrated. He works hard every day, and then comes home from work ready to play with the boys. Love him so much!

My Jackson Bird

My little Bird has turned into such a funny little man! He loves preschool and enjoys singing the songs he learns there (like "Winky Winky Star," AKA "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"). Tractors and trucks are favorites, and he can often be found sitting in front of the window in his room playing with his blocks or tools. He likes to take things apart and "fix" them. For example, I was in the shower the other day when Bird busted in the bathroom, dropped an AC floor vent into the shower, and announced, "I fixed it, Momma! Yay for Jackson!" Potty training is still an adventure in progress, and is always a topic of our nightly prayers. Hot dogs and chicken nuggets are still the go-to lunch staples, but Bird will also gladly eat apples or grapes for snack and "Greenies" for dessert (which are frozen green peas - shhh! Don't tell!).  I pray that God uses my little bundle of energy Bird in big ways for his Kingdom.

My Little Levi Bug

This little guy has a smile that just takes over his entire face. When Jacin or I talk to him, he absolutely lights up! We call him Bug because he is such a snuggle bug! Despite his stomach issues and his fondness for middle-of-the-night snacks, Bug is a very happy and content baby. He is very strong and can already hold his neck up and sit up for minutes at a time in his Boppy chair. For entertainment, Levi enjoys watching his big brother play. My little Bug has just stolen my heart, and I cant' wait to see he and Bird become close friends & playmates. Even though he's only 3 months old, it seems like he has a sweet, laid-back disposition, and I pray that God draws Levi's heart close to His own.