December 24, 2009

desperate times....

call for desperate measures. i am fearing the worst possible sleep for the next 10 days. but we all know (don't we ladies!!!) that the Lord provides. And some times He knows what we need even before we do. Back up 3 weeks.....Ben was on round 15 (lost count) of cold season and I was desperate for him to go to school (for my sanity) which means only one thing. Sniffles and sneezes. You know....the "homiopathic" remedy to stop a runny nose? I stumbled upon it at Mother's Market (the source of all good things for your body and soul that I can not afford....or don't have the attention span to research and follow religiously as I should....I know I should!) what was I saying? Oh, so I went to Mothers to buy the glorious (it works and I don't know how) Sniffles and Sneezes and for some reason it was only sold in a package with a product called Calms Forte 4 Kids. I had not choice to buy it. (Thank you Lord.) Apparently Calms Forte 4 Kids (should I really be typing this out? Will people be trying to buy it by the truck load?!?!)....relieves restlessness, sleeplessness, night terrors, growing pains, causeless crying and sleeplessness from travel.

I'm sorry. Causeless crying? Sleeplessness from travel? Really? Praise the Lord. Seriously. For whoever knew there were lots of us out here desperate for a solution other than benadryl. Which I have not tried b/c I fear my child will be the one in 1000 with the "just gets out of control hyper" reaction. I can't risk it. Ever.

So friends....we are packed and ready for "vacation"....errrr....holiday travel. And stocked up on Calms Forte 4 Kids...b/c in November the Lord knew I would be having a sleep panic attack.

Merry Christmas.

ps...when you google Calms Forte 4 Kids the first site is called "Organic Pharmacy." Which obviously means there are not only no adverse side effects of this substance, but that it probably is SOOOO much better for you than even vegetables.

December 23, 2009

Holiday fear

you think i will make it through airport security with a spanking spoon?

Holiday cheer




is 12 hours too long a time-out for a two year old?

what if he's advanced?

brilliant!

yes i am!

shocking (to me) that i still have a brain full of good ideas these days. i am knee deep in diapers, wipes, pjs, mittens and am stuck in a suitcase, but with all the clean clothes and packing lists around me, i managed to have a brilliant thought that will certainly add just a smidge of sanity in the 10 insane days of travel that lay ahead.

bring a laundry bag for dirty clothes.

seriously! have you all already thought of this? and been doing it for years? one of the things i like least about being away from home is the disaster that our sleeping quarters become with dirty clothes piled all over the place, having to smell socks (or worse) to determine what pile is clean, etc. as i was emptying lyle's dirty clothes bag into the washer for hopefully the last time before this trip i was marvling at it's cheery design, simplicity and convinence and thought....what the HECK....i'll bring it with us!

hooray!

hopefully is it not too late for all you traveling mom's to do the same.

enjoy. this might be the last brilliant thought this fried mom has for a long time.

on a side note i just might change the title of my blog to: fried mom

December 21, 2009

santa is not coming to our house....

i have not put much thought into my "stance" on santa. you know, do you or do you not incorporate him into your Christmas traditions? santa presents? santa visits? is he real?, etc. as a Christian i think you're kind of required to have a stance and be prepared to defend it. is perpetuating the myth of santa lying to your children? is that wrong? or is it all in good fun and just part of creating Christmas memories for your children? we haven't talked a lot about santa this year. you know, his role as world wide gift giver, travel logistics (reindeer), entrance method (chimney), traditional thank you gifts (cookies and milk), his entourage (the elves), etc. but ben definitely recognizes the jolly old soul in books, pictures, blown up 10 feet at the neighbor's house, etc. and he gives a shout out every time with out fail. he's sing santa claus is coming to town with all his heart. and he seems excited about his presence. as long as he is a safe distance away. you see, ben has a pretty good memory. and clearly has not forgotten his last close encounter with the bearded man....12 months ago.




















so, nothing thinking about that moment tonight, in an effort to get ben to stay in his bed and actually go to sleep, i casually mentioned that if he wanted santa to bring him Christmas presents he needed to be a good boy and stay in bed....b/c santa only brings presents to good boys and girls.

to which he replied, "i don't want santa to bring me presents. i don't want to sit on his lap." and "i already got my Christmas presents." because we have celebrated with my parents and aunt and a few friends and the are already more new toys in this house than i know what to do with. and even ben knows everything is good in moderation.

i give up. stay up as late as you want.

at a loss for words

i am at a loss for words in responding to ben these days. he is three months shy of his third birthday and WAY to young to start lying....right? i mean, i know (mom's opinion) he's "advanced" but advanced rebellion? i wasn't hoping for that. we have had a lot of conversations in the last year that go something like this.

me: ben, did i ask you not to .....fill in the blank.....
ben: yes.
me: did you....fill in the blank....
ben: yes.
me: what happens when you do not obey me.
ben: i get a time out.

recently when i have been saying, " did you ....fill in the blank...." he just looks at me and says, "no." usually while holding or still in process of doing what ever i asked him not to. then the conversation comes to a halt. what do you say to that? ben, did you get out of bed and get books after i said it was night time? "no." then how did the 10 books on your bed get there? at which point he kind of smiles b/c he thinks he has beat me at my own game. that if he doesn't confess he or his bottom won't see the consequences. so i've started trying to explain the truth vs. lying. not easy with a 2+ year old. but i feel that there has to be immediate consequences for lying, even if he doesn't really understand. right? or clearly he understands if he's smart enough to lie in hopes of not seeing "consequences."

another have mercy Lord, moment in parenting.

December 18, 2009

how many suitcases

will it take to pack 4 people for 10 days, 25 Christmas presents, a cocktail dress and suit for a wedding, clothes for 3 possible seasons of weather, one road trip with in the trip, and all the gear necessary to have a chance for two little ones to sleep somewhere other than home (ie....noise machines, pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, etc)?

i will let you know friday.

ps. Santa, all I want for Christmas is sleep.

down hill and out of control....

oh i'm not talking about me. i'm talking about ben. on his new bike. at the park this morning. i'd never payed much attention to the ups and downs of the path that journeys around the lake at our neighborhood park. until today. while i was pushing lyle in the stroller. and ben "i love speed but get nervous easily" thorburn got going too fast down the hill and i panicked (no surprise) and ditched the stroller in the grass (don' worry, lyle slept through the whole thing) and went running after ben who's screaming "MOM, HELP MOM!" by the time i got to him he'd slowed down and was pedaling again trying to pick up speed.



December 14, 2009

i give myself a hard time when it comes to parenting. for several reasons. i really care about my children. and feel responsible for their well being. and i like to do a good job with any challenge. but i am often just poking fun at myself when i write blogs about the silly things i do. or the kids do to me.

but today....i seriously feel bad. lyle hasn't slept well since LAST tuesday night. there has been LOTS of crying and screaming and tears and kicking and back arching. and i thought it was because i thretened to wean him of the 3 am feeding (that he is entirely too old for and doesn't need). but yesterday....it finally clicked that he's been sick for a month now (seriously) and his cold has probably developed into an ear infection. and confirmed by the dr. at 10:30 this morning. he was screaming so loud at the office they wouldn't let me leave with out giving him some motrin.

poor little lyle. why did this not occur to me SIX DAYS AGO!?!?!?!??!

he has to hate me.

please don't ever tell him about this.

my happy, medicated baby is now sleeping.

December 10, 2009

sometimes....

i want to know whats going on in your world, just so i don't have to think about mine.

December 7, 2009

Jesus is watching you....

I have been very intentional about including Jesus in ALL holiday talk around here. Jesus is the reason for the season. The Christmas lights represent Jesus as the light of the world. Presents. Jesus is the greatest gift of all. Etc. And I've just made up a lot of other explanations for things like why mommy eats so many Christmas cookies (God's love is abundant), why we can only listen to Christmas music (b/c i'm tired of Old McDonald had a farm), stockings (would have kept Jesus feet warm in those sandles), etc.

But this morning we implemented the "Jesus is watching you" program. A friend (Jodie...do you want to be anonymous?) told me about Santa's helper Elf? The Elf on the Shelf? Not sure exactly what it's called, but you buy this little elf, place it somewhere in the house that your kids can see and tell them that the elf is watching (for good behavior) and will tell Santa what he sees. Which EVERYONE knows determines the quality and quantity of your Christmas presents.

Because I am 1) cheap and didn't want to buy the elf, 2) overwhelmed at the thought of taking two kids into a toy store and 3) a sold out Christian totally intent on making it all about Jesus this year....I swiped baby Jesus from our nativity scene and placed him on the kitchen island and explained to Ben that Jesus is now watching us. To see if we are good boys and girls. And he will tell Santa.....wait....this is going to totally confuse him. Too late. I am desperate for good behavior. Jesus is watching. And if you are good. You get Christmas presents. And if you are not, mommy will use the Christmas present budget to buy things for herself.

So the first....ok....like seventh flaw with this is that every time Ben obeys when I ask him to do something he looks at Jesus...to make sure he is watching....and then turns to me and asks me for his present. How do you explain to a 2 year old that Christmas is 3 weeks away? And Jesus is also in your heart? And mama really wants a new pair of boots.

December 6, 2009

i continued my stellar parenting this weekend by hiring a baby sitter saturday afternoon (you know....family day) because greg and i both had made plans.

i followed that up by sending ben to my aunts for an overnighter.

and took my baby to a raging Christmas party. Put him upstairs and occasionally checked a baby monitor.

then ended our night....hungry.....at in n out burger....with our baby....at 1 am.

awesome.

loved hanging with you sugdens.

December 3, 2009

failures in parenting

ben watched 3 hours of television today. i failed him as a parent.

on a side note, the house is spotless, the floors are cleaned, the sheets are changed, the wash is folded and put away, lyle is happy from all his cuddles, and dinner is on the stove ready waiting for greg to get home.

you win some you lose some. thanks for taking one for the team today ben. i'm sure you didn't mind!!!