Saturday's Are Good...

Some brother LOVE...

Why can't we get a good picture of our family of 4?  Oh, is it because trying to hold a baby and snap the picture at the same time?  We need to sign up for professional photos.

Let's Hear it for Saturday's

Anywhere Chair...

All of G's little friends have this "Anywhere Chair" from Pottery Barn.  Every time we are around this chair Graham seems get all kinds of crazy.  Sitting in it, jumping on it, pulling it around the house.  I mean he REALLY loves these things.  Well, it just so happens we were at Mike's uncles house and they had an Anywhere Chair for their now Senior in High School.  I mentioned how much G LOVED them and they said we could have theirs.  I thought...THIS IS AMAZING.  Then Jeff's sweet wife Paige asked if she could buy us the cover (for no good reason) - I told her she did not need to do that and she said "please don't insult me".  How nice is that?  THANK YOU Paige - you are so kind and the best gift giver EVER (see tiny Northface posts). 

The cover just came in yesterday and look how excited this little man is.

He calls it his "special chair".  He informed me yesterday that he was planning on sleeping in the special chair for nap time.

To which I told him he could sleep in it, if he stayed really still and kept his eyes closed.

Needless to say, he was not able to keep up his end of the bargain.  So we settled for letting him drag it to the "wiving woom", after nap time, to watch a monkey movie. 

Check out that hair.

Let's Hear it for Really Kind and Great Gift Givers

Our Boyz...

Track - 7 months

If I had to pick a word for you today it would be... JOYFUL and NOT TIRED (is that two words?)

Graham - 2.5 Years

If I had to pick a word for you today it would be... SMART and NOT TIRED (is that two words too?)

No matter how little you guys sleep...I LOVE YOU both with my whole heart.

Graham told me today he wanted "to get back in my tummy", I think because I was trying to explain to him that he was in my tummy when he was tiny and he use to kick me...he is looking for any excuse to be able to kick ANYTHING.  Stinker.

Let's Hear it for the Boyz

Pan, Pan, Pan....PAN

Ok, here is something else that you HAVE to own - all credit to the Lord or actually my friend Christine.  Did you know that if you cook with Tephlon that if you scratch it, which I can't seem NOT to do, that when you heat it up it is toxic to your food?  Or at least that is what the most current research is saying.  Kind of like putting plastic in the dishwasher and it

leeching. 

Ok, so after a year or so of reading about how toxic it is, trying ceramic, and stainless steel (with no luck, because everything sticks to them)...I finally put in our budget to buy a Mercola pan which was going to cost us a fortune.  At this Hummel house we make no less that a half dozen eggs a day, so I NEEDED a pan to not make me die, and that I didn't cuss every time I needed to wash it.  Enter Christine Bailey...she posted about the below pan, for about $40.00 (which is a complete steal).  This is the deal...it is eco friendly, DOES NOT STICK (I mean literally NOTHING sticks to it) and I don't even need to use butter or oil.  It's super easy to clean, it will NOT scratch, oh and it is really pretty  -RED - I think it is ceramic.  It's pretty much amazing.  This might be my new "go to" gift for my girlfriends/ moms.

It must be good luck - Twins...I wish I was having twins (if I were pregnant and I'm not).

Order here...http://www.bialettishop.com/

Wondering if I get a kick back?  I WISH.  How do you make that work?

This is a MUST HAVE in your kitchen.  I promise you will LOVE it.

Let's Hear it for CONVENIENCE AND SAFETY

Walk...

Mike met me and the boys at Cottonwood Park on Friday after work.  We fed the ducks (to which against hey were not hungry).  We saved some kids from impending doom (they were playing with a dead raccoon) to which I ultra mothered them (freaked out a little bit) and let them know the diseases raccoons carry and that they should LEAVE IT ALONE or face death (ok, I didn't really say that - but that would be REALLY funny).

We went to walk home and Mike had been wearing flip flops when we he met us at the park, and no one wants to walk a mile in flip flops. He went directly to his car and pulled out the most successful gift I have EVER given him.  Wool Ugg house shoes.  Good thing it isn't August.  Even if it was Mike would wear these.  I think he has even worn these to church (probably not on a Sunday, but I wouldn't put that past him).

So if you are looking for a gift for the Mister in your life - Ugg House Shoes - worth every penny ($100).  I mean they go every where with Mike...obviously, they were in his car?  Also, they are two years old and he wears them EVERY DAY and they are holding up great.

Let's Hear it for All Purpose House Shoes

Teeth!

Ok, this guy - who just turned 7 months-  was really interested in feeling my finger with his tongue EVERY time I tried to get a picture of his very first pearly white...so this is the best I got.  He is getting so big and look. at. those. eyes.  He is adorable now, but those eyes are going to be lady killers or the window to his soul or something else amazing.

Let's Hear it for a New Nursing Phase (TMI?)

Oh. WOW.

Well, son this might be the best one yet.  I love you.

Let's Hear it for Poop on your Head

Splish Splash...

It's hard to even look at this little man and not smile.  It's amazing how much joy a tiny guy can bring when he literally can't do anything for me. 

 You know me...I love to keep the kids in the blue whale tub for way too long.  By the time bath time is over the floor is soaked and T can pretty much step out of the tub and walk himself to his room to be dressed.

Let's Hear it for Track

Our first fruit...

I think our garden is actually working right now.  I mean I have been praying for the Lord to bless the work of my hands, so here we are.  As Graham would say, "food in the gart" - food in the garden.  Is it time to pick the strawberry and eat it?  Anybody know - I don't?

Let's Hear it for First Fruits

The view...

My view on life keeps getting sweeter and sweeter this week.  I'm not sure if I could see one more thing before I die it wouldn't be these two guys just living life with us.

What's a trip to "Super Narket" Central Market to get a "nuffin" with out Mommies Puppy?

Let's Hear it for the Simple Things

More Easter fun...

On the "pooping" trip to "Hobby Hobby" G saw all of the Easter stuff out and he became fixated on his extreme LOVE of Easter Eggs.  He talked about Easter Eggs all the way home and then we read books with Easter Eggs in them before "night night".  I told him we could get the eggs out of the garage after nap time and we would play with them.  I thought he would for sure forget and I was thinking about not opening the "Easter" box until a few weeks closer to the actual date, but I got a second wind of energy and fished the box out while he was still sleeping.  I took his favorite ABC puzzle and filled the eggs with letters and hid them around the house all in a matter of 3 minutes.

I heard him start talking, more specifically I heard a faint "mommy, come get me" - so I opened the door and the first words out of his mouth were "Easter Eggs?".

I told him I had a special surprise for him.

Here he is waiting on his surprise.  Isn't he so cute when he wakes up.

He noticed the eggs right away and I couldn't really get him to settle down.  You would have thought it was Benjamin's on the floor.

We did this over and over again for at least an hour.  Boy am I glad I got them out of the garage!

Let's Hear it for Something Fun

He has RISEN....

In preparation for Easter we broke out the Easter Eggs...

I mean who wouldn't want an early Easter Egg bath?

Let's Hear it for Jesus.

Reading to T...

Now that Track can sit up more and is awake more we (Graham and I) have been reading to him everyday.  The other day G asked me if he could "hold" T.  I wasn't sure how this would turn out, so I rushed to grab the camera to capture the momentous occasion.

Look at how big my little guy is?

Let's Hear it for Brotherly Love

Graham and Anabelle...

The Cholicks are some of our very best friends.  We are in community together at Watermark and we are lucky to live in the same neighborhood.  I took this picture last night at our community group dinner.  I love how Graham is starting to make friends and isn't Anabelle the cutest thing?

PS.  Secretly wanted to document this, in case they get married...you never know.

Let's Hear it for Anabelle Cholick

I pray for you every morning little girl.

Abraham & Issac...

This morning at breakfast Graham and I were reading his Storybook Bible and he again found the story of Abraham and Issac and asked me to tell him the story.  So I tell him about God asking Abraham to "give" Him his son, and faithfully he marches him up the mountain and gets him ready to "give" to God, but God says STOP, etc.

Well, today Graham looked right at me and said..."Mama, change his diaper?"

Pfffftttt.  It kind of does kind of look like a changing table instead of a sacrifice situation. 

Let's Hear it for 2 Year Olds.

Rip 60: Week One CHECK

5 days down...now two days of rest and then a new cd.  Today I knocked out my workout with Graham, while Track slept...it was hilarious.

He kept repeating the guy saying "Ok, now ready".  He also asked me one million times if this was mommies Dee Vee Dee Vee and if it was his turn yet.

Here's what he did when it was his turn.

During any cardio portion he ran circles around me.  I think laughing at him might have been a better workout than my actual DVDV - ha.

Finished my workout with both babies up.  I'm so glad I was able to get it done.

All in all it was a great 5 workouts.  Honestly I was worn out and a little sore after the first two days, but then with workouts 3, 4, and 5 I was a pro.  I am READY to change to a new cd and see what comes next.  I'm not sure that I look different in a week, but I feel good and it has been such a relief to be able to work out at home and not pack up both the babies.

Ready for week 2 and another week of working out at home.

Let's Hear it for My Two Biggest Fans

Is this too much?

I put EVERYTHING in the dish washer and my husband thinks it is RIDICULOUS.

I might have crossed the line this time.  Notice the blue wavy thing in the back right corner...it's Graham's Potty Seat.  I mean how are you supposed to get those things clean?  Sanitize mode is definitely the only way.

Let's Hear it for Being Ingenious

Green smoothie...

This is the day that the Lord has made (and Graham ate vegetables). 

We will REJOICE and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24

I was feeling adventurous today and my dear friend Christine posted her favorite "green" smoothie recipe on her blog (here), so I thought I would try it.  Of course, G wanted to help me (as with every project I do), so up on the counter he went...he squeezed the oranges and lemons, dropped in the ice, tossed in the spinach and celery, sprinkled the cinnamon and ginger, cracked (aka. crushed) the egg, and  squeezed the honey .

Time to give it a try. 

I'm pretty sure at this point that G will take one sip of this and say "don wike it".

but to my surprise he WIKED it. 

This is more vegetables than he has eaten in his entire life.

After T woke up, off we went to "Hobby Hobby" to pick up some special "Smoothie Straws".   

We got home with them and Graham wanted to make another smoothie...to which I said SURE.  Two green smoothies in one day - I am feeling like Mother of the Year. 

PS.  The service at Hobby Lobby is TERRIBLE...I mean SO SO SO bad.  Every time I go there I wait in a 5 cart deep line for 10-20 minutes or more while at least 2 Hobby Lobby employees stand around and refuse to open another check out lane.  The best part about Hobby Lobby today was when it was our turn to pay, Graham told the lady that he had pooped.  She had trouble hearing him and asked him to repeat it, which again he said " I POOPING".  NO HE WASN'T...I HAVE NO IDEA WHY HE SAID THAT.

Let's Hear it for Special Poop Straws

Bye Bye Owie...

Tuesday morning rolled around and we had to wake the wee man up at 8:15a to get to Dr. Chartrands.  He knew we were going and we had told him the Doc was going to give him a little pinch (shot) and then take away his owie.  He asked for a "swink" (drink) a few times on the way down, but we had to get him there fasting - that part was the HARDEST....until...

The calm before the STORM...

I had watched 3 online surgery videos about Ketamine, read multiple articles, talked to one anaesthesiologist, one large animal vet, one general surgeon and spent an hour on the phone with Dr. Chartrand asking my list of 11 serious questions.  I was prepared for what Ketamine sedation was going to "look like". 

UNTIL...it didn't go anything like we had planned.  One Ketamine shot down (Graham handled it like a champ), he started slurring his words a little, he couldn't walk straight and he was asking for raisins....surely he will be out soon and we can start the procedure to get this OVER with...nope...it's obvious to the Ketamine expert in the room (me) that the drug is not working.  I make eye contact with Chartrand and I realized he knew it too (der Tara - he's the Doctor).  So we decided that the original dose was conservative and we dosed him again...ok, eyes starting to roll, we get up on the table, G says "hi, dada" and "want down" and "go home" loosely 8,000 times over the next 5-7 minutes.  Again the expert in me knows this isn't working - he should be catatonic.  I start to sweat (panic a little), Graham is sweating bullets (and sobbing) we needed to make a move before the crappy sedation wore off.  So, terribly we decide to retrain my sweet baby in his loopy (but not out) stage to get this done.  I am thinking 30 seconds max, so my jurisdiction is his little chest and legs, and Mike is holding his wrist and fingers so the Doc can cut and get the glass out.  Graham cried the whole time (like he was hurting) and although it probably took 10 minutes, it felt like an hour.  I just kept telling him that it was ok and that mommy was right there...the whole time I am thinking...Jesus, please let this end. 

And then it did and the calm set it and Dr. Chartrand took a deep breath and the huge piece of glass was out, the stitch was in and I could get my little guy out of there and in a more comfortable position.  Mike told me on the way out that he almost threw up 3 times, and I admitted to almost having a complete melt down myself- we were a mess, but a strong unified mess at least when necessary.

  We took him to the porch and I held him like a tiny baby and he started to fall asleep and his breathing got really shallow...this is where I got totally FREAKED out.  We ran him back inside Dr. Chartrand yelled at some people to get out of his office to make room for us (like he was Mel Gibson in Braveheart or something - Amazing) and broke out the oxygen, but before we had to use it G started crying and we knew he was ok. 

Phew...I need a nap and an axiety pill (ha).

Now were talking...G wants to read and crawl up Chartrands stairs.  Well, his top half was still much heavier than his little legs and he kept tumbling over...but he was getting his personality back and he started using his hand - YES.

We were only at the Doctor's office for a few hours, but it felt like a full day.  We got in the car and G was starving.  He ate a bar, "nuffin", blueberries, strawberries, toast and apple juice.  Sidenote:  Apparently everyone ever known to get Ketamine vomits, well thankfully we were at least spared the vomiting.  He was tired the rest of the day, took a 3 hour nap and went to bed early, but didn't really complain.

Here is the culprit.  Huge, huh?

 The end to a stressful day for the Hummel's.

Son-

Today, you were STRONG & COURAGEOUS like Joshua and I am so proud of you.

I love you.

Mama

 Here's a bedtime shot of his stitched hand.  He says it hurts and he is curious why his owie didn't actually go away (bad parenting - of course it wouldn't be visibly gone).  When he looks at it he closes his fist really tight - I think the stitch oogs him out.

What I have to say about the whole deal is...the Lord faithfully answered our prayers.

1.  Chartrand did an amazing job, under more difficult circumstances...he made us feel comfortable with the decisions that needed to be made and like we were the only people on his schedule for the day.  He also let me hold Graham during the entire procedure. 

 THANK YOU.

2.  The glass was removed and his little tiny man hand already looks better and most importantly he has full function.

3.  G did not have any side effects from Ketamine

4.  Graham WAS Strong & Courageous

5.  I held it together

THANK YOU for praying for my son.

Also, if you EVER think there is any possibility of a foreign object in your body or you child's DON'T DELAY...get it checked out.  Also, did you know that any outdoor deep laceration - rose bush, bottle, whatever (not necessarily rusty) can carry the bacteria that causes tetanus?  Now you do.

Let's Hear it for my "sees things differently"/ granola/ shockingly kind/ talented..

Dr. Chartrand