Battleship

Last Saturday I went to a few garage sales with my sister-in-law, Donna. Donna has some great luck at garage sales. I don't go often enough to have come across a lot of great things, but I've gotten lucky a few times. I came home with two things last week from a garage sale for Todd: a Nike bat bag [maybe I'll get around to posting about his first Little League season] and the game Battleship. Todd is a game-lover, and this is a game that I remember playing a lot as a kid. I knew Todd would enjoy it.

In fact, Todd loved it. We played it as a family on Sunday--Daddy and Todd versus Mommy and Ryan. Dad couldn't keep up with the pace of the game--or couldn't keep down with the pace? Things were moving rather slowly as we were trying to let the boys be as involved in the game as possible. Brett lasted through one game, then we had to call cousin Kellie over to continue in Brett's place. After another game or so, Todd was able to play independently.

Todd came down with a fever and was feeling pretty miserable on Tuesday. However, he was not feeling too miserable for a few games of Battleship. He woke up in the morning asking to play. After he watched Wall-E he asked to play a game. Then about two-thirds of the way through Horton Hears a Who Todd asked if he could take a break from the movie to play Battleship. We don't often let the boys watch full-length movies in one sitting, especially in the middle of the day--let alone two! Sick days are the exception. So, for Todd to want to stop in the middle of the movie is saying something. [What exactly it's saying, I'm not sure. The movie wasn't so good? He was tired of laying in one spot for so long? He loves the game Battleship? Or all of the above?...I think he loves the game Battleship.]

Todd suggested that this was a perfect game to bring to Maine with his cousins. It does seem like a good travel game, with the exception of all those tiny pegs that I know would scatter all over the car or airplane. I was thrilled when I came across this as I was "researching" for this blog post. A paper version of Battleship! That really is perfect for a long car or plane ride. I don't think Todd's quite ready to play the paper version yet, but it's something I will definitely introduce him to when he is.

MOPS Tea and Testimony

Every year our MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group has a special "Tea and Testimony" for one of the meetings. It is always a nice event. It is one of those events when women bring in their own dishes from home and dress the tables up nice and fancy. I volunteered (by default) to be the hostess for my discussion group. I brought in my Butterfly Meadows dishes to set the table, and everyone else pitched in with silverware, tablecloth, cloth napkins, centerpiece, serving dishes, etc. I thought our table looked nice, which was my goal. Imagine my surprise when we exceeded that goal and came away with the prize for best table. I was blown away. There were so many cute and very creative tables. I think ours won because the judges liked the traditional look of the table. Personally, my favorite was the birthday-themed table, but I'm not complaining. This is our "Spring" table:

I put some time in the night before getting things organized. I made sugar cookies and decorated them with every one's initials for place settings. I laid out all of the place settings and serving pieces I would need to bring the next morning. I also made sure to have a variety of herbal teas for those of us who don't drink the regular kind. I was glad that I had offered those alternatives. The majority of the ladies at my table chose from the herbals.

An individual place setting:

We had a good time, as evident by my expression. I was sitting by the "mentor" mom for our discussion group, Joy, a very sweet lady.

The ladies in my discussion group:

I volunteered to organize a special musical number for the "testimony" portion of the meeting. I selected a song by Sally DeFord called "Miracles." We practiced almost every Sunday for about a month and a half before the performance. Our practice paid off. I thought it sounded very nice.

Here is the introduction I presented for our song:

The song I selected for our group to sing at the MOPS tea has a message that I felt was perfect for the women here in MOPS. The composer of the song “Miracles” explained that as a young girl she felt love and a desire to help the whole world, yet she would fight with her own brothers. She wanted to “save the whales,” but she would forget to feed her own dog. As an adult she grew to realize that some of the greatest miracles are those that happen closest to home. It is easy to become overwhelmed by all that we think we should be doing as women and mothers. Perhaps we feel like we should be doing more to make a difference in the world. I would like to remind each of you that you are making a difference in the world. Being kind and loving mothers is one of the most important things that you can do. In addition to making a difference in the lives of your children, I know that you are also helping to create miracles in the lives of others around you. It may not seem like much, but the smiles and kind words you offer make a difference. The support that you lend another mother facing a difficult challenge makes a difference. The meals, childcare, prayers, and more make a difference. Do not underestimate the good that you can and do accomplish each day. Our Savior Jesus Christ performed great miracles serving those close to Him. While we can not hope to do the things He did, we can follow His example by loving and serving the people around us. He will make the miracles happen from there.

Ryan took this photo of me with my "prize" after the meeting. It was such a gorgeous spring day.

I must admit that I was exhausted by the time the tea was over. I had stayed up too late for too many nights in a row. I know that I have used the word "heavenly" before to describe a beautiful day in a hammock. It still applies, especially when it includes a sweet, cuddly boy . . . . Heavenly.

Unfortunately, both Ryan and I later came down with a stomach bug. We had about three sick days between the two of us. At one point, Ryan was so feverish and tired that he fell asleep on the couch. He rarely takes a nap anymore; and he never falls asleep on the couch.

Those who didn't snuggle much (Todd and Daddy) managed to avoid being sick. I still say cuddles are worth the risk!

What's the Problem Here?

School started back up on Monday--only our family enjoyed two extra vacation days. Okay, they were really sick days, but it was kind of a vacation for me. Todd came down with a stomach bug Sunday night/Monday morning. Monday was a quiet day for us. Todd spent the whole day lying on the couch or taking a nap. Ryan was a little wired and had a hard time balancing between wanting to spend time with Todd and wanting to run, climb, play, and talk at a high decibel. In the end he decided that sitting on the couch watching two long movies wasn't such a bad deal.

I was so proud of Todd and told him that he was a trooper more than once. When I first used the word "trooper" Todd thought that I was referring in some way to Star Wars. I had to explain to him that in this case a trooper was someone who was fighting to stay positive and happy despite a difficult situation--like when he was standing over the toilet and smiled up at me between throwing up. We had some sweet conversations at 2:00 in the morning, him in the bathroom and me cleaning up the rug in the hallway. Even on Monday when he was too feverish to move (I carried him to his bed or back to the couch more than once.) he was still pleasant to be around and welcomed the gentle attentions and kind words that I offered him.

Today was a different story. Todd still needed a little time before he was ready to go back to school. But he started asking for breakfast as soon as I got up (a good sign that he was feeling better). And he was ready to make up for the playtime he missed yesterday. At dinner both Todd and Ryan were wired and I was struggling to keep my calm between the interruptions, noise, and general craziness. They both left their dinners half-finished (a few too many before-dinner snacks at Oma's, perhaps?) when I ushered them into the tub.

Brett got home from work just after I got the boys into the bath. He asked, "What's up? Everything okay?" There was only one accurate answer. "Yes. The boys have just been too . . . cheerful!"

Homework, Cooler Weather, and Competition

Homework
This is the follow up to Todd's sick day post. Todd ended up being out of school for three days. I had hoped that he would be well enough to go to school on Friday, but he was up most of the night (Thursday night) coughing. When he went to school on Monday I sent a note to the teacher explaining his absences and said to feel free to send home any work she wanted me to go over with Todd at home. We spent all of Monday afternoon and early evening finishing his "homework." It was all easy stuff, and Todd was a great sport about it. If anything, it was more one-on-one time than he usually gets with me in the evening. However, I am not looking forward to when homework becomes a daily chore.

Sometimes Todd still doesn't seem like his body has fully recuperated. Not that he has a temperature or a constant cough and runny nose. He just seems to get tired out more easily in the evenings. Tonight he had to be sent to his room for a little quiet time. I can see it, but he doesn't recognize that his body is still a little worn down.

I am still having him take his breathing treatments twice a day until I am sure that he is back to normal. He has been protesting the medicine the last two days, because he doesn't consider himself sick. I am hoping that this doesn't become a battle this winter when he needs to take his breathing medicine every day to treat his "asthma-like symptoms". A summer with no problems has made him forget that sometimes we use the medicine to assist in treating a cold, but we also use it at times (colder winter weather) to help prevent the coughing fits he is prone to when he is off the medicine. This all still feels new to me as I adjust to caring for someone who needs regular treatment for a (comparatively very minor--thank goodness) chronic health concern.

Cooler Weather
I was so excited this week when I was able to open the sliding glass doors for the first time since Spring. We set up Play-Do on the craft table in the screened porch for Ryan. No more reminding, "Shut the door!" I enjoyed some time finishing my book outside and playing basketball with Ryan. And yesterday we had an absolutely lovely day at the park with our church playgroup friends.



Competition
One reason (among many) why I find it harder to spend much time on the computer these days: as soon as I sit down during the day at the computer one or two little boys will immediately ask, "Can I play on the computer?" They have become quite adept at controlling the mouse and figuring out how to play the activities on their favorite web sites (Thomas and Playhouse Disney). They do a pretty good job taking turns when I use the timer, but I still need to monitor them closely so they don't get glued to the screen. I am looking forward to having a system at home where they will be able to earn the privilege to play on the computer for a set amount of time according to the chores they have completed. Coming soon!

Diary Of Our Sick Day

Todd started coming down with a fever last night a little before bedtime. He had been acting a little tired after school on Tuesday, but I figured that's all it was--a little worn out from a long day at school. Around midnight last night when I was on my way to bed, my suspicions were confirmed: Todd was sick. He had a fever and I ended up giving him some medicine to help bring it down so he could sleep. I knew that that we would be having our first sick day--Todd wouldn't be going to school in the morning. Unfortunately, Todd woke up quite early in the morning after the medicine wore off, and I was feeling like I was in need of a sick day myself.

Ryan woke up quite chipper and excited that he had Todd home to play with all day. From my cozy bed it sounded like Ryan was bouncing off the walls, and he didn't quite understand that both Todd and Mommy could have used a little more sleep. Todd ended up crawling into bed with me and even asked to borrow my eye mask to help him sleep better. (I don't think it worked, but it's fun to wear anyway.)


Todd definitely did not have his usual energy, and spent most of the day doing quiet activities like taking care of his virtual pet. (For once, his little puppy got some attention! I'll try to post more about that later.) Ryan, on the other hand had plenty of energy. Here, Ryan acts like a frog. (Sorry for the bad photo. Remember, I'm still using that broken camera.)

Todd who took a little downhill turn (101.8), moves to the couch for a rest while Ryan works on an art project. Finally, Mommy let him do painting!

We still talk to Todd and include him in our conversation (or rather, Todd is the one who really keeps the conversation going--that boy can talk!) as Ryan and I make Raspberry Cream Cheese Muffins for lunch. (I didn't get motivated to make them for breakfast this morning. The boys requested cold cereal, and I gladly complied.)

I asked Ryan to clean up the ice cubes he spilled all over the floor. . . . but I was really thinking a towel might be the easiest way to pick them up. Ryan, however, thinks acting like a dog is more fun. Let's hope that floor isn't too nasty.

Poor Todd! He snuggles with the ice pack. Ryan makes an interesting bed in a cave.

This is, by far, my most favorite photo of the day. Despite feeling pretty bad and sticking to the couch for a while, Todd is still enthusiastic in his conversations with Ryan. And Ryan still finds ways to have fun and stick close to Todd.

I gave Todd some more medicine before lunch. He was able to get some nourishment in his body and take a decent nap. Even better, Ryan went down without any problems as well. He has not been taking many naps these days, and I was worried that he might not have expended enough energy staying home to nap today. Unfortunately, I missed my opportunity to take a nap with them.

Despite the fact that Todd was feeling bad (and I would never wish that on him), I enjoyed having a lazy at day at home with both my boys. I think they enjoyed the relaxed schedule as well. From the looks of it, we'll be able to repeat it again tomorrow! Todd just woke up a bit ago (11:00pm-ish) feeling bad again. Even if his fever is down in the morning, he doesn't need to be going to school yet. Let's hope he's able to go on Friday. It's school picture day.