Weekend with Family

I'm just catching up.  This weekend was wonderful, then a whirlwind. 

My sister's children are so close to my heart, it's a love I never could have imagined, but one I thank God for every day.  Watching my sisters grow, deliver, and raise a baby brings so much joy, and when they're in a rough patch, so am I. 

My oldest sister has two boys, Quinton and Noah.  Quinton was scheduled for a routine surgery yesterday at the Children's Hospital about two hours away, the same hospital in which Noah was taken to three days before, then again and admitted just a day prior.  Noah (the sweet littlest cheeser- and yes, that's his "cheese!" face) is being evaluated for a seizure disorder. 

The night of his first seizure, I lay awake reliving it.  Over and over.  His actions, the look on his face, the reaction of his Mommy.  Tears flowed as I felt so concern, so many questions.  So the day we knee he'd have a sedated MRI and EEG, just an hour after his brother had his surgery, I knew there was one place I was supposed to be.  There- with my sister.  Even if I could only sit beside her in the waiting room.  Or "shhh" a crying, angry, afraid baby while swaddled to the table.  So I left my family for the day, and even though I always miss them when I'm away, I knew I was in the right place.  I just can't explain the love I have for these boys, and the empathy for my sister. 

So while we await results.  While we squeeze and kiss a healing child. While we look with sympathetic eyes on those we love so much.  We know we're in the hands of a God that loves us even more.  And in that, I can find some peace.

xx,

Lisa

A Weekend Away

We had the busiest, most eventful weekend.  It's always good to remind ourselves why we appreciate our quiet weekends at home ;)

Molly and Noah- this picture actually preceds the weekend, but was a perfect reminder of the time we spent that day during the week with our little buddy.  He wanted to follow Molly everywhere.  And she was so proud to have him as a shadow.  I'm so thankful for cousins and friendship for Molly (even if sometimes it's full of disagreements and lack of sharing), for they'll always have each other!

We took off  Friday for Pittsburgh for the FMCSA certification exam- long acronym, basically the certification I need to perform DOT physicals in light of new regulations.  Not exciting.  However, what was exciting- the hotel!  Complete with a small water park, it made for more fun than we could have imagined.  I forget how adventurous our toddler is until she sets foot in a water park.  That child has her father's spirit- it's unbelievable.  She was fearless.  She loved the water, and kept saying "I can't wait to go on the slide!" each time we left.  It was a nice, warm indoor weekend- a much needed treat amid the freezing temps of February in Pennsylvania.  And the perfect Valentine's Day getaway. (Of course, dinner was a disaster- who knew it could be so difficult to get a two year old to sit for 20 minutes?!  We ordered dessert to go- much more enjoyable.)

My sister's baby shower was a few miles away on Saturday, so after a long morning of swimming, we spent an afternoon celebrating baby Ethan.  Her shower was lovely- Molly's favorite part was, of course, the cake!  Most of my own pregnancy memories are me with a HUGE belly.  My sister, not so- she's a beautiful picture of pregnancy.  A "just right" baby belly.  Pregnancy suits her.  And I'm so, so excited to see this baby she's been growing- only a few short weeks :)

And after a late night visiting with friends and visiting family all day Sunday, I was glad for the calm of Sunday night.

I pray that my family we remember and cherish these times together, myself included, because Molly is growing and changing so quickly, and I know I don't want to miss it- even for a moment.

I hope this week is a great one, we're already covered in another blanket of snow in PA!

xx,

Lisa

February: Our Weekend

 

It's beautiful outside- a winter wonderland.  But seriously, this the coldest winter I can remember.  It's the kind of cold that really is tough to enjoy.  We tried to bundle up and head outside this weekend for some snow play-- not worth it.  It's hard to enjoy ten degrees.  For the first time, I'm excited to see temperatures reach thirty.  That's the fun stuff, the kind of cold weather you can actually enjoy without freezing to your core.  To the core, I tell you.  And it's only February.  Winter, it's been real.

So we've been enjoying our weekends indoors more than I had anticipated.  Molly loves hanging with me in the kitchen, and that mixer sure got some use this weekend.  We baked the most amazing chocolate cake, complete with homemade buttercream on Saturday (just the recipe for cake and frosting from the Hershey's cocoa container- easy peasy). Sunday we made bread, chocolate chip cookies, and mashed bananas/avocodoes/spinach for our weekly smoothies.  That stand mixer might be my favorite appliance.  And side note, I honestly think I enjoy cookie dough more than a baked cookie.

Molly's new favorite toy is a group of nesting blocks listing the ABC's, and we've made the best game of stacking them while singing the ABC's, only to smash the stack as the song ends.  She thinks its absolutely hilarious, and I'm not joking, we played this game for at least an hour- nonstop. 

Her next favorite toy is probably a tie between a mini wagon and the Fisher Price farm.  Pretty much every toy/baby/barbie has had a ride in that wagon, or spent some time hanging in the barn.  I try to limit tv time each day, and I'm so thankful that our house has a separate playroom for her to pretend and imagine, away from that tv.  We're not huge tv people anyway, and honestly our home only has one functioning tv.  But put that girl in front of Caillou, and she won't move. 

Much to our delight, I have a certification exam on Friday, and because we're headed to Pittsburgh for my sister's baby shower, too, I found a really fun hotel with a small indoor water park.  So we're about to pretend it's not winter- if only for a weekend.  I've shown Molly the picture of these water slides only once.  She now asks to see them constantly, followed by "I wanna go there!'  The excitement of a toddler--I promise to take a picture.

After an eventful Sunday evening, we're glad to have a calm night.
And plan our garden- dreaming of warmer weather to come.

Have a great week.