Staycation at the Grandparent's

We spent a total of three nights, four days, at my parents house.  Monday, we went for a drive.  24 hours after a fresh snowfall usually makes for beautiful driving.  Of course, rain greeted us.  Nonetheless, we drove around, went grocery shopping, and returned to my parents house.  Tuesday, C drove home.  Power had been restored.  Cable and water, however, were still on hiatus.  So, we stayed another night at the grandparents home.  No one minded.  Wednesday, C returned home.  Cable was repaired, water restored.  Meanwhile, back at the g'parents, boys were being bathed, laundry was being done.  For some reason it took the better part of the day to pack for our return home.  After stopping to complete a few quick errands, we finally arrived home around 6pm.  The oldest had missed one day of Kindergarten.  The three year old had missed 5 days of preschool (2 from being sick last week, 3 due to being displaced).  Miraculously, we returned a healthy family.  This Mama avoided the stomach bug; everyone had come through on the other side. 

Upon our return, we hurriedly completed bedtime routine.  Nothing felt routine but we made a valiant effort.  The older boys went to bed around 8pm (about an hour behind schedule).  Josiah followed in his own time.  It felt good to be home.  I was grateful for the accommodations during our time away but was definitely pleased to be home.

Thursday morning came too quickly.  The Kindergartner's project had not been completed.  Therefore, 6am found he and I sitting on the living room floor.  The rug scattered by materials that spilled from the craft box.  A cylindrical oatmeal container would make a perfect mailbox.  By 6:45am, it was complete with red construction paper and spiderman stickers.  By 7:15am, the Valentine's Day cards were made out, and signed, by the six year old himself.  We wrote out the cards for the three year old.  Somehow, during the last 45 minutes, I managed to wake Josiah and feed him (in part).  8:00am came quickly and hurried the two older boys out the door with C. 

As the older boys rushed out, D rushed in to work with Josiah.  It was Thursday...time for PT.  Josiah had an off morning.  He was pleasant, smiling at times.  He did not want to work though.  When D could get him to work without him realizing it, he was fine.  The minute he realized he had been tricked, he fussed.  Silly little boy.  He doesn't appreciate the hip helpers, at this point.  Of course, the more he complains about using them, the more he needs them.  If you don't know, hip helpers are much like spandex shorts but the legs are sewn together at the inseam.  The design prevents Josiah from performing "splits" when he goes into, and out of, the sitting position (a new trick that needs to be tempered). 
Well, the 75 minutes finally passed but not without his (somewhat) constant complaining.  Who can blame him???  I think we were all a bit off....it had been an unusual couple of days.

The were already talking about possible snow for the weekend.  My parents were coming home this weekend also.  We would wait and watch.....

Valentine's Day, "The Mayonnaise Jar & Two Cups of Coffee"

One year ago, on Valentine's Day, we discovered that I was carrying our third child.  The follow weeks and months would reveal a boy (whom we named Josiah).  A diagnosis of Down Syndrome would make itself evident.  We would fear a VSD and be relieved by it's (supposed) closure.  Nine months would bless us with the beautiful child that is Josiah.

Being Valentine's Day, I take certain care to be thankful for that which we have been blessed.  A friend posted the following on FB yesterday.  I thought it was a great reminder on Valentine's Day <3.

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar... and the coffee...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.  When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.  He then asked the students if the jar was full.  They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.  He shook the jar lightly.  The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.  He then asked the students again if the jar was full.  They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.  Of course, the sand filled up everything else.  He asked once more if the jar was full.  The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.  The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, " I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.  The golf balls are the important things-your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions-things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.  The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car.  The sand is everything else-the small stuff." 

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.  The same goes for life.  If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.  Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.  Play with your children.  Take time to get medical checkups.  Take your partner out to dinner.  Play another 18.  There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.  Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter.  Set your priorities.  The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.  "I'm glad you asked.  It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Author Unknown

Happy Valentine's Day, my friends :)