every captive thought

Today I got out of bed and did my best to feel well.  Jude...not s'much.  He had a 101.2 temperature and has an awful sounding cough.  We just can't get well.  I don't know what to do.  I was determined to see my family today though.  And lucky for us there was a doctor in the house to look Jude over. Snuggling with cousins Maddie Carrie and Maddie Sweet little Jude and his Nanapie Brad and his favorite sister-in-laws Maddie, Jamesie, and Morgie Sweet little piggie toes It was a great day and I loved getting to be around everyone.  I just PRAY that no one else gets sick from being around us. My whole wonderful family!

I've just been having a big ol pity party all day.  Brad has been with my family and they've sent me pictures...which is the next best thing to being there I guess.  Here is some of the fun I've missed. My sweet niece Morgan, Katy Jane, Carrie and Christi Mom and Christi cooking Cory, Katy Jane, Carrie Carrie, Judie Bug, James, Christi, Katy Jane Christi, Katy Jane and my sweet grandmother Dee Dee

Yesterday we went over to Mom and Dad to see my sister, brother-in-law and nephews.  It is so good to see them!  James was acting cranky and fell right asleep when we got home.  He never naps so he must've been very tired. My mother-in-law and father-in-law came over last night for Thanksgiving dinner.  We had a wonderful and relaxing evening with them. Brad sharpening his turkey-carving knife I woke up feeling yucky yesterday but figured it was just allergies.  I felt worse and worse as the day went on.  By the time I got in bed I felt awful and was running a temp.  I went to the doctor first thing this morning and I have strep.  Boo.  My family is celebrating Thanksgiving today with my other sister and family coming into town as well as 2 aunts and my grandmother.  Brad is over there now with the kids while I am in bed and so sad.  I look forward to being with my family at the holidays all year and I can't believe I'm miss...

We all know that the week of Thanksgiving (and Christmas) are crazy busy.  Everyone is getting ready for company and cooking.  There is cleaning and shopping that need to be done.  And thanks to a few little extra things that have been unexpectedly added to our calendar in December, I've also been trying to get our Christmas shopping done too. Monday and Tuesday were just a big blow to my pride, sanity, and overall well-being.  I'm counting on today to be a much better day.  Monday morning I woke up to this mess.  Jude knows it is against the rules to do this...yet it is as if it is a force beyond his control that makes him do it.  And it added one more thing to my long list of things to do. All the drawers emptied. Next I took the kids to Mom's so I could go grocery shopping.  It was all fine and good until I got to the checkout and the checker asked me when my baby was due.  I indignantly told her that I am not pregnant.  She l...

Mom and Dad kept the kids the other night so Brad and I could have a date night.  Jude came back with a red cowboy hat.  He loves it.  He even wore it in the bathtub tonight. Jude loves his little sister. He keeps his sword in his boot.  He thought I was just taking a regular picture of him.  He didn't know I was videoing, hence the "cheeeese!" This video reminds me of that youtube video of the two brothers fighting while trying to take a picture for their mom for mother's day.  Again...they didn't know I was videoing and thought I was just taking a picture.  You might want to turn down your volume as Jude exhibits his powerful vocals in this one.  And heaven-only-knows what Kathryn was crying about in the background.  I can really appreciate how James continues to smile while he tries to hog the camera. Send earplugs.  And xanax.

Before Jude and I left for BSF this morning I tried to get a picture.  It never works.  Especially when one is still eating breakfast.   At least Jude looked consistently good.  My handsome little cowboy.  He has decided this is his favorite shirt and hat.  He wears them all. the. time.  He looks good and he knows it.  Stick with what works...that's a good principle.   Tonight I went to a Christmas dinner at my Mom and Dad's church.  I got to see some sweet friends.  Several years ago (about 15, I guess) I used to drive to a small town about an hour away twice a week, every week, with these sweet women for BSF.  Love them!  The speaker at the dinner tonight was our BSF teaching leader back then, Carol Fruge.   And the highlight of my day... Today James had his Thanksgiving play at preschool.  It was all sorts of awesome.  There is nothing better than 75 preschoolers dressed as Pilgrims, Indi...

Today we decorated for Christmas!  This is a record for us...the earliest we've ever put it up.    James was so excited to decorate for Christmas.  We could barely hold him off until Jude woke up from his nap.  I love that James "gets it" and is excited about it this year.  In the midst of all of the ornaments and stockings and trying to keep the boys from pulling the tree down before we even got it up...I said to Brad, "These are the best days of our lives!"  These are the times we will look back on and miss.  It's going too fast. Katy Jane missed out on some of the decorating.   Can you believe it's only 40 days until Christmas!?!?! After decorating James wanted to build a cup tower.  It took every single fiber of Jude's being to NOT knock it down. Sooooo tempting! But he resisted. Success!!!!! And the fun part...knocking it down!

Of course today started off with making another appointment to see Dr. Honey for Judie Bug.  Poor guy.  I've stopped being surprised at the new maladies that Jude develops and am learning to take them in stride.  As much as possible.  Jude is so strong and so tough.  He always impresses me.  He is such a mighty little boy.  Of course I worry, I call the doctor, we thoroughly check things out...more thoroughly perhaps because it's Jude...and then we move on and wait for the next thing.  It will always be something with Jude.  I love him so much.  He certainly is keeping me on my toes...and on my knees.   To whomever created "Fun Dip" aka straight sugar eaten with a sugar stick...thanks a lot.  My kids probably won't come down off their sugar high for a few days.  I thought I had hidden the Fun Dip (don't ask me why I didn't just throw it away) from the Halloween candy but James discovered it. I wouldn't let Jude have any...

It has been a long sick week.  A cold/sinus infection/ear infection/bronchiolitis/wheezy/snotty/nasty sickness has torn through our family.  Finally we are all pretty much better.  Why is it the snot and coughs seem to last forever?  Gross. When everyone is sick like we've been I try to keep everyone in and snuggled down.   I certainly don't mind the extra snuggles. I love this sweet face.  He goes to school 2 days a week and I miss him so much when he is gone.  I'm always early to pick him up because I can't wait any longer. The other day James asked me what Nana and I used to do together when I was a little girl. I listed off some of the fun things we did together and one of them was making paper puppets.  James jumped on the idea.  I have made more paper puppets in the last week than I ever wanted to.  James loves him some crafts.   Jude thought the glue sticks were chap stick.  It made for some sticky kiss...