22 Things I Have Learned About Motherhood

On one of the scrapbooking blogs I read, the writer gave a challenge - write 22 things you have learned about motherhood and make a page. Here goes mine:

1. This is going by way, way too fast.
2. There is nothing better than snuggling in bed and watching Scooby Doo.
3. I love watching and listening to my children sleep.
4. Laughter fixes just about everything.
5. Happy Meal toys multiply in toy boxes.
6. Sticky can always be cleaned up, somehow.
7. You can avoid battles, most of the time, by offering kids choices you are already okay with.
8. Dip makes kids happy.
9. Pick your battles, not everything is life and death.
10. Kids watch your every move and will copy your actions and words.
11. Kids never tire of hearing, "I love you."
12. Teaching your kids a healthy fear of the world is very hard.
13. Christmas is meant to be incredible, excessive, and magical. It is the ultimate celebration.
14. It is worth the price of a cheap toy in a souvenir shop to bring the smile my kids' face.
15. Routine is your friend, even though it is, sometimes, a lot of work.
16. Whenever possible, stay in a hotel with an indoor pool.
17. Restaurants with playgrounds can make road trips that much more enjoyable.
18. Sometimes TV and video games are necessary if you want to get anything done.
19. The best entertainment on a snow day is card tables and blankets for fort building.
20. Ice cream makes summer more fun.
21. Band-aids are cheap. If they "fix" the problem, go for it.
22. Expose your kids to a lot of different situations. It helps them understand, life isn't just about them.

Spring, Really?

Since when did Spring start with six inches of snow?

The kids and are in Winfield, enjoying night #2 in a hotel. We came up yesterday to spend the afternoon with Grandma and had planned to go to Heather Allen's mom's birthday party today, and head back to Bartlesville this afternoon. But, with the snow and iffy road conditions, we opted to spend today with Grandma and stay a second night. Damon was going to come up for the day, but stayed in Bartlesville and enjoyed a little solo weekend at home. (Well, not completely solo...he has the dogs! :-))

We took Grandma to Derby yesterday to Sunflower Quilts. There was no hesitation when we asked if she wanted to go. She was looking for her shoes, her checkbook and the door. She spent an hour and a half in the store and Grandma covered every inch. The kids did great, considering how long we were in there and they found a few things they couldn't live without. Grandma found "a few things" and I carried her $310/two bags out to the car.

My grandmother is 95-years-old and these times with her are priceless to me. At 95, she is still passionate about her hobby, she can talk about it for hours, she makes project after project, and always has a list of things she wants to try next. She figured out she made 13 quilts last year, not counting wallhangings, tablerunners and other small projects. She has made three quilts this year.

Today, I watched her relish every minute with her great-grandchildren. She can't hear them very well, but she tried to be involved with them in every possible moment. She played tea with Reid, played along when Reid was "talking" on the phone to the Easter Bunny, and enjoyed fresh baked cookies with Jackson (he baked them). And, she let each of the kids help her feed the birds and put out food for the cats and the raccoon.

She doesn't mind that they trash her apartment with toys in just about every square foot (I will post pictures when I get home). And, she doesn't mind what they play with - Reid was digging through her sewing stuff and drawing pictures with her quilting pens, playing tea with an antique pitcher, and cutting paper with her sewing scissors.

Amazing woman. I hope I can be like her some day! :-)

The 10-Year Journey

Ten years ago this spring, Jackson was just beginning to give us a taste of what was ahead. He was breaking out in rash, ear infections were a constant battle, and things just weren't right. Over the next two years, we went from doctor to doctor, made multiple trips to the Emergency Room, and were told over and over, "he just has a rash, here's a prescription." But, something deep inside told us there was more to it than that.

Fast forward to 10 years later, to yesterday, sitting in his allergist's office and she said, "I don't believe I am saying this, knowing who I am talking about, but, he is doing so well, why don't we drop back to seeing me every nine months?" Huh? What did you just say?

At one time, Jackson was described as Dr. Purser's sickest patient. We were there weekly, at different points, and monthly for many years. We've made emergency trips to Tulsa and gotten so acquainted with the office staff that all we have to say when we call is, "This is Jackson's mom/dad" and things would get done. Dr. Purser sent us  to the nation's leading facility for allergies/asthma/ezcema, National Jewish Medical Center in Denver, twice. He has gone through thousands of dollars in prescriptions; at one time, taking 12 meds at the same time. He has scratched himself to the point of bleeding, he has stopped walking at times because his feet were so badly cracked, and he has endured skin infections that made us cry. But, he has always handled it with grace, superhuman understanding, and patience beyond his years.

But, today, his skin is healthy, his lungs are strong, and while he is the only kid I know that can sneeze in his sleep, he has come so far. He takes three medications each day, just to keep things under control. We know that his health is still an issue, but it is manageable because of one thing - swimming. Swimming has been his saving grace. The chlorine for his skin and the workouts for his lung health are keeping the delicate balance of health in check for Jackson.

We have never asked God "why" in this journey. I am not sure that is a question that has ever really entered our minds. Maybe because Jackson was our first born and we didn't know any different or if it is just Damon and I's personalities to just take it as it comes and deal with what we have in front of us. We have simply taken this journey with Jackson day by day.

But, yesterday, that journey had a new milestone, a new fork in the road - "See you in nine months!"