our weekend

We have had a great weekend. Yesterday we went to Garner to visit with Matt's cousin, Jake, who is a Marine. He's stationed right now in Okinawa, and is finishing up 20 days of leave. We hadn't gotten to see him yet, so we headed to Aunt Melanie's on Saturday for lunch. The weather was gorgeous here this weekend, so if Jonah stayed in the shade, he was okay. So we got to spend a couple of hours outdoors, which he always loves. And it was so great to see Jake again. It's been too long.

This morning we went to church, all took naps, and just hung around here doing laundry and unloading Jonah's monthly bandage supplies (yuck). We didn't really get to do anything to celebrate Father's Day, but we know how blessed we are to have Matt, and that he is quite possibly the BEST dad on the face of the planet.

this past week

I am finally feeling better after a week of being sick. Last Tuesday morning I woke up with a burning sore throat and some congestion. The congestion got worse but for the first few days it was just a nuisance. Then, on Friday I started feeling really bad, and by Saturday I had body aches and chills and was coughing up some... well, never mind. I went to urgent care in case it was a sinus infection. The doctor there said it was just a virus but prescribed me a z-pack "just in case," and told me to wait "three to five days" to get it filled.

PUH-SHA.

He knows I'm a mom right. And that I don't get vacations. And that Matt had to go back to work on Monday. I got that antibiotic filled quicker than you can "It may not be bacterial but heck if I'm gonna wait and see." It may have been coincidence, but after the very first dose I started feeling better and have gotten steadily so since Saturday evening. So thankful.

In the meantime, we've been hard core potty training around here.

I started with Jonah last Sunday (the 26th) after three months of telling him that when we turn three, "No more diapers!" He has done amazingly awesome. He had a few pee pee accidents the first couple days and randomly pooped his pants yesterday but other than that, he's done awesome! He's already pooping in the potty and standing to pee. He even went at the library the other day. He's still not great about telling me when he needs to go, but he goes when I ask. So we're just working on the communication part. I still put him in a diaper when we leave the house, for nap and night time, but more than not, he's dry after errands and nap. He's still soaked in the mornings, but he can't help that since we run a pump with formula overnight. He doesn't eat so we can't do skittles or anything as incentive, but the sticker chart has worked great for him. We mostly do stickers but once in a while, he'll get a bigger prize of a new matchbox car for overcoming a hurdle (pooping the first time, a day with no accidents, peeing standing for the first time, using the potty in a public place etc).

It's been a really good experience. I'm so proud of him!

But it's not all work and no play around here.

On a warm day we got to take a walk with Jonah riding his new tricycle he got for his birthday (Thanks Granny, Grandaddy, and G-Daddy). I can steer the thing myself. It's so sweet.

The other night, we played a family game of Hide and Seek. It was Jonah's first time, and it was love at first hide. He doesn't quite get the concept of quietly waiting in your hiding spot, as he's usually giggling and squealing in delight, giving himself away. This was a particularly good spot - in the top of my closet!

And this one was just a cute one of Jonah in his big boy underwear and fire fighter boots. That's a real man for ya. :)

I really love our life. It's weird and often difficult, but sweet, silly and simple at the same time. We are so blessed.

this and that

Things are going pretty well around here. Jonah is over his cold and is holding his food down again. This weekend Matt's family is coming into town. Granny and Grandaddy up from SC and Kim, Andrew, and the kids down from NY. Kim's 20th high school reunion is Saturday, but lucky for us, we get to spend the whole weekend hanging out with them. We're heading to the fair this weekend too! I can't wait. I love the fair, and I think Jonah will really enjoy it this year. (And I'm running my first 5K on Saturday morning!!!)

Jonah went straight into class tonight with not so much as a glance back at us! No crying, no throwing up. Nothing. He's still struggling on Sunday mornings because we haven't been able to be as consistent on Sundays, but lots of progress!

I haven't gotten a recent update but Matt's Aunt Katherine is still in the hospital, so please keep praying. I know she is desperate to get home to her family.

And I don't really have any new photos of Jonah, but here is one I tried to take of us at our neighborhood block party Saturday.

Loving the cool weather! Loving fall! Loving life!

catching up

We have been really busy lately, which is good I suppose, but leaves little time for documenting the busyness. Things are going well, although Jonah woke up with a cold on Sunday morning, so he can't hold any food down right now because the congestion makes him throw up. Frustrating for all of us. This was my Facebook status around this time yesterday:


God has gone before us in all things. I especially know this when I have to clean up 8 oz of green puke off my living room rug. Thanking God that He saw to it that I bought a rug of the same color long before Mr. J came into the picture.




Lots of puke. Lots and lots of puke. But hopefully he'll be over the congestion in the next couple days and we can get back to (our version of) normal. He's staying in class on Sunday morning and Wednesday nights now, although he still cries and often vomits when we first leave him (congestion or no). No way to get his anxiety level down but to keep pushing through. And so we push on.


On Thursday Jonah had a dentist appointment with our awesome EB dentist in Chapel Hill. His teeth are small and don't have much enamel. They will never be normal sized, and once he has his permanent teeth, he will have to have surgery to crown them or cap them or something and may lose his teeth and have to have implants later in life. But for now, they're only baby teeth, and so far, thanks to God, he hasn't had any infection, cavities, or abscesses. So we keep doing what we're doing, and pray that the little teeth he does have stay healthy.


Jonah and Daddy waiting to see Dr. W.

On Saturday we went to the transportation museum because they were having a Day Out with Thomas! Jonah constantly watches Day Out with Thomas videos on youtube, so although it was $19 a person (WHAT?), we knew we had to do it. All of my photos are phone photos because it was supposed to rain all day, and I didn't want to have my nice camera out in the crappy weather. Thankfully it didn't rain, but still, camera photos it is.


On the way!!! He was so excited. I think this is the first time we've been able to talk about something or taking him somewhere ahead of time and he really gets what we're talking about. It was fun to see him anticipating it and getting really excited!

They had lots of cool model train tables set up, which Jonah (and I) loved.

Jonah's favorite thing to do was play at the train tables (although we had some slight sharing breakdowns), and he cried every time we'd pull him away to see the next thing.

He wasn't sure AT ALL about the giant engines everywhere, but we forced him to get a photo with one anyway. (Because we're excellent parents like that.)

Then it was time to take our 4:30 ride on Thomas!

He only cried a tiny bit when I carried him on the train but was in Train Heaven by the time we got to our seats.

We didn't get a photo of Jonah with Thomas because the lines were long and we had to get him home for a tube feed (we had already let him skip lunch), but it was a great day overall. He really had a good time.

And then he woke up the next day sick. Bummer.

Sorry to those of you who follow me on Twitter, because I know these are photos you've already seen but I just haven't taken many on my other camera lately. 

How are things coming along with your monthly service opportunities? Are you going to be ready to blog or Facebook them on October 15th? I can't wait to hear how God has been moving!!!

nothing much

Nothing much to report today. Jonah has been a P-I-L-L today. Constant fussing and crying, screamed all through Target. I really hope he's not getting sick. It's really unlike him to be so difficult. He seems to be resting okay tonight, so we'll see how tomorrow goes. Maybe he's just had a pissy day. We're all entitled to them every now and again. :)

While he screamed in Target,  I went to the candy aisle and bought two of the biggest bags of Sour Patch Kids I could find. And now I'm eating them. Remember that time I had lost seven pounds?

On Week 8 (again) of Couch to 5K. Can't run 28 minutes on my own, but if I run with a friend, we can rock it. We go slow, but we can run about 2.5 miles. Pretty awesome seeing as how I could barely run the 60 second intervals in Week 1. Slowly but surely.

Still trying to narrow down what we want to do to Get our Serve On. We're looking into spending time at the homeless shelter here in town and there is also a friend of a friend who has started an urban ministry here in town (very close to us) that I want to check out. I really want us to do something relational if at all possible. If you're interested in participating, make sure you join our Get Your Serve On group on Facebook. A really cool community forming over there.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

guess what today is?

Hey y'all. Guess what day it is? September 1st. The first day of the month before the month when we'll get guaranteed cool temperatures. The month that one would classify as more "fally" than "summery." THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE SEEMINGLY UNENDING TUNNEL OF SWELTERING HEAT.

Can I get an AMEN?

I'm giddy.

There was even a fallish breeze here this morning. It actually felt cool(ish) for the first half of the day. And then it went back to its normal scorching self, but there was a glimpse, Folks. I caught a glimpse.

Thank you, Jesus, for breezes, the tippy top of leaves starting to change, and for the word September. It's a beautiful word, quite possibly one of my new favorites.

Okay, I'm done.

YAY FALL!

(Okay, really. I'm done.)

We are doing well for the most part. Jonah hasn't been able to wear shoes for two weeks because of blistering on his feet and ankles, so he just wore a double pair of socks to church last night and when we went out to Aldi today. It's not ideal, but it's the best we can do right now.

On Tuesday, he wouldn't come into the kitchen because he's apparently scared of the Crock Pot (I don't use it much, so it was a new thing). I tried to trick him and asked him to bring me a cookie. He was in the dining area and started walking toward me, bringing me the cookie. I was crouched down on the floor with my mouth open. But as soon as he got to where the Crock Pot was, he said, "Here, Mommy!" and threw the cookie at me. It was so funny. And humiliating. But mostly funny. He's too smart for his own good.

I don't have much to share. We have really just been around the house this week besides a quick trip to Aldi today. We did go to Wednesday night church last night. Matt has been going since Jonah was born because he's a teen small group leader, but because of Jonah's feeding schedule, Jonah and I really haven't been able to. But really, I'm just at the "screw the feeding schedule" point. He's older now and a little more adaptable, and I think having more exposure to church and class than just our inconsistent Sunday attendance will help him with some of his separation anxiety. That's the hope anyway. I stayed with him last night, but starting next week, I'm going to try to leave and he's going to have a one-on-one, at least for part of the time. We shall see how it goes.

Okay, I'm going to go read and veg. Sorry this is so boring, but really that's just how life is right now cooped up in the house.

BUT DID I MENTION THAT IT'S SEPTEMBER 1ST?

Oh, just checking.

boring post (i warned you)

We're doing well. Not a whole lot to report. Sarah is home visiting this week, so it's been nice to have her around. She had to turn in her final Spanish paper today for her summer class, so I had to dust off my ol' Spanish skills and do some editing. Fun stuff (she would probably not say the same).

Have I told y'all that I'm going camping this weekend? I cannot remember the last time I went for-real camping. It was long before I was pregnant with Gabe. It's going to be a siblings only trip. My brother, my two sisters, and I are heading to Boone on Friday afternoon for the weekend. I am so pumped. I don't know that we've ever done something just the four of us. Peyton was already living in Greenville for college when Shaina was born (they are 19 years apart) and spouses and kiddos came along before we knew it. I am really going to treasure this weekend. (So pray for no rain, okay?) It will be my first weekend away from Jonah, so I'm anxious at the same time. (So pray for rain, okay?... just kidding.)

It would probably be good if I set up my tent to make sure it hasn't dry rotted and pump up my air mattress (what, I have back issues) to make sure it has no leaks. I would rather not find out those two things when it's too late.

Nothing much else to say. Jonah has feeding therapy tomorrow, and Sarah and I will be meal list making and grocery shopping for the trip this weekend.

I leave you with this photo of Jonah from last week. Just because.

good day

Today has been a perfect day.


- Church with my two favorite boys.
- Jonah was GREAT in class (although I still had to stay with him) and he even sat at the table the entire time for the lesson and coloring.
- a BLT for lunch with fresh garden tomatoes (they're finally turning red!).
- I napped when Jonah napped.
- Got my coupons all organized which has been hanging over my head for a long time.
- Got all of our night chores (setting up for dressing change, pulling up tomorrow's meds, loading dishwasher etc.) done early.
- Happy update on Tripp.
- MEXICAN FOOD FOR DINNER!
- A few hands of Rummy with Matt.
- Got my run in. Week 4, Day 3 done. Didn't die.
- Nice relaxing shower.
- Used my new face wash. I like it. 
- Now to bed to read and relax.


GOOD DAY.


Hope you all had a nice and restful day too.


Oh, for those of you who have asked, Jonah's hand is doing much better. We're still keeping it bandaged, but it doesn't seem to bother him when I wash it now, and I'm hoping it will be completely healed by the end of the week. As always, thank you so much for your prayers and for caring about our Sweet Boy. 

avoiding all the other things i should be doing

This is one of those posts where I'm sitting down to blog not having anything in mind to blog about. Partly I feel that I'm not blogging enough lately (self-imposed guilt) but mostly I'm avoiding all the other 1,425,671 things I could be doing instead that would be much less fun. 


I made my friend Gaye's zucchini bread again last night and also some yellow squash muffins. I think that probably does it for my squash and zucchini this year. I froze two more cups of the shredded zucchini and will probably do the chocolate zucchini bread again down the road. I also have a recipe for zucchini cookies that I'm wanting to try. I'm not sure why I'm developing a likeness to baking at the same time I'm trying to get in shape, but I will tell you this - flour, butter, sugar, and eggs and running do not mix. Today is Week 4 Day 1 (or it may be tomorrow, we have plans tonight) and I'm fairly certain I'm going to die. The running requirement really jumps up this week, and have I mentioned it's still 1,000 degrees outside? And the bugs? Oh, the bugs. Always nice to add bugs smacking you in the face and getting in your eyes and mouth to the pouring sweat and inability to breathe because of the humidity. I love July and August in the south.


Jonah really got hurt last night. You may have seen me tweet about it. He was just walking and holding his water cup in one hand. He lost his footing or tripped or something and slammed down on the ground HARD. His one empty hand took the full force of his weight and slid across the floor when he fell. Needless to say, the skin is completely off one half of his palm and the other half is broken bunched up skin that slid from the rest of his hand. EB is a cruel disease. Between that and what's going on with Tripp, I went to bed sad and depressed last night. It's weird how after two and a half years it can still take me by surprise. Just like that, the skin was gone. I'm putting Bactroban and Desitin on it and wrapping his entire hand except for his fingers. He's so tender with it, holding it up like a casted arm and using his left wrist instead of his hand to do things. I'm heartbroken about it, but thankful that he even has the ability to heal.


I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon and then my Mom is keeping Jonah tonight so we can go out to dinner and have dessert with some friends. I've been getting out so much lately, I'm going to be spoiled. I'm so thankful for my mom and how present she's been this summer. I'm dreading her having to go back to school. But that means it will be closer to Fall, so I guess I can't want summer to stay and cuss at it to go at the same time. In a few weekends, my three siblings and I are going camping, just the four of us. I can't remember the last time it was just the four of us, nor can I remember the last time I've been camping, so I'm really looking forward to it. HOWEVER, it will be the first weekend I've been away from Jonah (there was one night that Matt and I got away from dinner time one night to about 10:00 the next morning), so part of me feels a little panicked. Not that Matt and his parents can't handle things/dressing changes around here, but I'm a little scared of how dependent I am on Jonah. I've already informed my sister that they can't laugh or make fun of me if I cry several times throughout the weekend.   With Granny and Grandaddy here, I doubt Jonah will even notice that I'm gone. That's a good thing.


Have any of you ever been to Great Wolf Lodge? I'm wanting to plan a short trip (maybe two days or so) in the Fall. I was thinking that Great Wolf might be good because Jonah could maybe do the swimming/water stuff that he's missed out on this summer because we'd be indoors. AND we could just go right back to our room without having to put him wet in a car seat (he'll have to "swim" with his bandages on) to do dressing change. I'm just wondering if there is enough to keep him entertained knowing that he won't do the forts or the slides or anything. I don't want to spend the money and go if he can't participate. Things to keep in mind: he can't climb yet, he'll have to wear his bandages (meaning we'll have to do all the water stuff at one time, because we can't do multiple bandage changes), and he can't wear a life jacket. I don't know. Maybe it would be more for me than for him, getting to play with him and watch him enjoy the water like that. I just want a short fall vacation to celebrate the end of summer and let Jonah have a different/new experience, but I don't want to go and spend the money for him to have very little he can do and for us to feel frustrated (making our lives a lot more difficult for an expensive not-fun vacation) if that makes any sense. 


I'm rambling now. I've got to get Jonah's lunch stuff ready, switch the laundry, etc etc, so I better go. Thanks in advance for your Great Wolf/any other short toddler-friendly vacations input!

these are the days (of summer)

Jonah's breakfast.

Watching trains while he "eats".

"Enough Already, Mom!"

Switching youtube videos himself.

All clean after dressing change. Before nap.

Stupid blur. It was so cute.

After nap, wearing his potty chair on his head.

Playing with the dryer light.

Trucks and trains. In Jonah's world, it doesn't get any better.

Watching his shows and eating his bandages. 

Me: Hellooooo, I can see you, ya know.

Blending black beans. His favorite thing to eat by mouth!

(We've been doing lunch by mouth every day for the last three weeks or so. HOORAY!)

Dinner time!

Post-dinner, Pre-bedtime wrestling with Dad. This happens every night.

It cooled off for a couple of days so we were able to get outside!

And that's pretty much how it's going these days, plus or minus an across town trip to Nana's house.


It's sometimes not ideal, but it's our life, and I'm thankful. (And Jonah sure doesn't seem to know the difference.)