the j team never says die

Some of our best friends, Shawn and Jen, and their beautiful sons, Jude and Cohen, moved to Texas yesterday. I still can't believe they're gone. Shawn got an amazing God-sent job opportunity and they knew they were supposed to go. So I am so happy for them.


But man, I'm going to miss them so much.

Shawn and Jen, Thank you for always being there for us, through all the good and bad. You are both amazing. I pray for peace, unity, and a beautiful amazing adventure. I know God is holding all of you in his hands. I can't wait to see what he has in store.

We love you so much.

And I know Texas is pretty cool and all but just you remember who gave you chicken stew, Texas Pete, Krispy Kreme and Moravian cookies. You'll be back. Oh yes. You'll be back.

our weekend

On Friday night, we went over to our friends, Shawn and Jen's house for dinner. It was the first time that their oldest, Jude, and Jonah really interacted and played together. Jude is four months older than Jonah and I have high hopes that they will be best buds.

Jonah liked this Cars book. It was one of those with the buttons that make sound effects.

Any time Jonah has a play date with kids near his age, there is lots of yelling, squealing, and growling on his part. He just gets so excited he can't help himself. (See Exhibit A)

All the boys (minus Jonah... who was probably still growling on the other side of the room).

We love Shawn and Jen so much, and Jonah, Jude, and Cohen will all be so close in age. I'm glad Jonah will have some cool dudes (with some cool, and you know, Godly, parents) to hang with (with whom to hang?).

Today we took Jonah over to our neighbor's yard to swing again.

I think he could swing all day. He gets so relaxed and starts closing his eyes. It's so funny. I'm glad he loves it. Fall is on its way. It's still going to be a little warm for most of this week, but hopefully we are just one or two weeks from consistently cool temps.

I've had a really rough weekend. I started having severe lower back pain on Thursday. I have Scoliosis and wore a brace in middle and early high school, so I sometimes have some minor back pain. But I guess between daily lugging around a 26 pound 18 month old who can't walk, getting a bee in my bonnet and moving a heavy TV by myself last Thursday, and my painting job this past Tuesday, I overdid it. All of that to say that I've been in really bad shape. Finally, on Friday, to make it through the day and be able to care for Jonah, I took some prescription strength muscle relaxers. They helped my back pain but by the time we got home from Shawn and Jen's, I was completely flu-like achy from my legs to the back of my head. So I took more relaxers. They helped. But then, once several hours had passed, I would get the back pain back and would be aching severely. I was getting nervous wondering what horrible disease I had that would make my back hurt like that AND make my whole body ache and give me headaches. All day Saturday I was fine the couple hours after I took the muscle relaxers and then I'd start feeling HORRIBLE again. Today, we didn't go to church because, basically, I've been an invalid, and I went to Urgent Care. They couldn't make heads or tails of why my back pain would/could be causing the flu like symptoms and said it was possible I had a virus on top of my messed up back. Well today, I finally figured it out. This morning, I only took two ibuprofen because I didn't want to be doped up when I went for my appointment. The only issue I had this morning was the back pain. I felt better than I have in three days. Then, when I came home, I took the muscle relaxers again. I was okay for an hour or so and then got achey with chills again. I was on the couch most of the afternoon, feeling horrible. And then it hit me: I'M APPARENTLY ALLERGIC TO THE MUSCLE RELAXERS. So that's good news. grrr... At least I figured it out. I'd rather tolerate the back pain, which I hope will go away with time, than suffer through HOURS of flu-like achiness. I have been in bad shape. My back only really hurts if I'm having to bend over or if I'm transitioning from one position to another. I'm okay if I'm just sitting or just standing. So anyway, I know that was long and rambling, but I'm just so happy I figured it out. Geez. I'm a little slow sometimes.

My sister came for a visit this weekend, and we had a good time diagnosing me on the Internet. We were fairly certain I had Meningitis, Brucellosis, or a Pterodactyl bite. Seriously though, it was scaring me, so I'm glad I figured it out. And that it's not a Pterodactyl bite after all. That would have sucked.

photos

Photos from yesterday.


I took these using the flash and my new Lightscoop. I'm officially in love. (This first one just looks bad because the light over him was one of those energy light bulbs that are really orange/yellow.)

A  new shirt from Aunt Kim.

Watching Gabba... or something.

I have to remove Jonah from this spot about a billion times a day.

"Jonah, are you about to get into trouble? Are you making a bad choice?" The answer is usually yes.

Sweet Baby Cohen. (Looks a lot more tiny not zoomed in.)

Jude and Jonah playing together in the same general vicinity.

M Family, party of FOUR!

Nothing much to report. We didn't get out yesterday (except for taking dinner to Cohen's family) or today. A few people have dropped in today including Matt's Aunt Patsy (Mimi), my mom (Nana), and Penny, a friend of mine, who brought me Chipotle (Chee-pote-lay, remember?) for dinner. So good. Hoping to make it out tomorrow. I need color-safe bleach. Yep, it's exciting around here.

a long day and poo on Ida

A very long day today.

Jonah only took 18 ounces, and it was a MAJOR struggle getting him to take even that much. He's now fighting us even in his sleep. He's a smart one, he is. I hope this is just the last couple days and not a habit, or we'll be in trouble and on the road to a g-tube yet again. He'll be weighed again on Friday, so we'll see where he stands.

He's still not napping except in my arms... like I said... Long Day.

Don't get me wrong, he's sweet and beautiful, and I love holding him, but I get so tired struggling to get him to sleep and feed him, all I want to do is lie down... if only for thirty minutes. But as soon as I try to put him down, his eyes pop open. And unfortunately, most of the time he's not waking up happy.

Sorry, today is a negative day. We haven't even stepped out the door in two days, something about a tropical storm passing through... constant rain... frigid wind. No fun.

I'm having a hard time knowing how to entertain him (and myself) for a full day stuck in doors with no napping. We've had rough nights the last two or three, so I think I'm just overly tired. It's my night tonight, but I'm hoping it goes well, and I can catch up a little. My whole perspective changes when I'm tired, and I HATE being a whiny baby. I know we have it good.

Could you say a few prayers for Tripp tonight? He's struggling with a nasty cold or virus or something and is also having major pain from chronic mouth blisters/sores (EIGHT TEETH last I heard). Courtney is having to suction him about every five minutes. I know by the way I'm feeling, it must be 20 times harder for her. And she handles it with such grace, always thankful. Anyway, if you could say a prayer for Tripp to feel better soon and for strength for his parents, I know they would appreciate it so much.
*******************************************

And on another note...

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY, JUDE! WE LOVE YOU BUDDY!

the last few days (with cute pictures)

Last Saturday we went to hang out with our friends, Shawn and Jen, and their cutie, Jude. Jen and I have decided that Jonah and Jude will be best friends, and Matt is already calling them "The J Team." (Now we just have to get them a cool black van). Jude seems very interested in Jonah, and Jonah, well, he seems very interested in Baby Einstein. But soon enough I know they will be good buddies. And BOTH parents like to hang out with BOTH parents, so we're pretty pumped about their arranged friendship. Here are the boys mesmerized by Baby Mozart. They both behaved beautifully, and we plan to get together again really soon.

Here is a shot of our yard sale stuff. We did alright money wise, but after it was all over, Matt and his dad took the rest to Goodwill, and we can now fit the Escape back in the garage - the real point of having the sale. With the hot weather, it was imperative we get the car in the garage, so it won't be so hot when Jonah gets in. We are SO tired. We didn't get in bed til about 1:30 last night, we were up with Jonah from 3:45-4:45, and we had to get up at 6. Tonight will be an early to bed night, even if it means getting up an extra time or two with Jonah. (Although he was mostly on an up-one-time-a night schedule, he's now back to waking us up at 1:30 or 2:00 and then again at 4:30 or 5:00... even if his last feeding of the day is at 10 or 11.)

Don't ask me why Matt looks so grumpy. I'm pretty sure I had just called him down for selling all my really good stuff for hardly anything. That'll teach me to go inside and pump.

Jen and Jude came and hung out with us a couple hours at the yard sale. And then Jude stole Matt's hat.

Matt and I are using some of the money to start a "Tenth Anniversary Trip" fund - the only way we will EVER save money for a tenth anniversary trip. We discussed going back here in Riviera Maya, Mexico, where we spent our honeymoon, but Matt would LOVE to go to Hawaii. I don't care where we go as long as it's tropical (or a cruise), but I'm planning on needing a break in five years... or possibly five minutes.

And on a completely different note, look who's doing a great job with tummy time! He'll enjoy it for five to ten minutes, and then he's all done, but we'll take it. He's got pretty good head control, but we're working on building up his arms. He is delayed in his grabbing/grasping/reaching (obviously), but we'll have to give him some time. He's only had his hands unwrapped for a week, so you can't really blame him. He does try to hold his bottle when he's eating, and he always plays with his fingers. The only rolling over he's doing is from side to back, so I figure he's going to be a little delayed in that too. I'm okay with it though, because once he knows how to roll over, dressing changes are going to be a nightmare.

Off to wash dishes, switch the laundry, wash diapers, feed Jonah, and go to bed... eventually.