Home for Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year, making the 12+ hour journey home to spend the holiday with family and friends. We made it in just before it snowed for about 4 days straight - the boys were in heaven. They haven't seen that much snow in two years. But, like Michigan, we got about 4 months of weather in 2 weeks. Shortly after Christmas the 30 inches of snow melted and we got flooding and then ice and then grass. Thankfully, the snow came back for one last day of sledding.

Two weeks goes really fast when you are trying to see as many people as you can. We got thrown a few curve balls in the first week, which I will write about later. So, unfortunetely we didn't get to see everyone. But, seeing the boys with their cousins and friends just warmed our hearts and made the crazy week well worth it.

Christmas meant so much more this year since we didn't get to go "home" last year and next year we probably won't be home either. It's so great to see your loved ones and feel like no time has past at all. We just look a bit older - at least I do!

Jacob has hit top five list and I'd agree: Snow, cousins, a night at the swimming pool, seeing his best buddy Andy, and Grandma, Papa, Grandma and Grandpa (yes, the boys were SPOILED!!)

So much snow!


Jeb's first encounter with Santa


Christmas cracker crowns with the B's


Blauwkamp cousins

Christmas morning

Koops cousins

Snow fort!

First Tooth Out!

Oh boy! We have hit a huge milestone in Jacob's life - he lost his first tooth! It's been wobblely for a good month, but while visiting my friend Sara and eating an apple it came out! Jacob held it up and Sara and I both thought it was a pit, until it hit me and I starting screaming out of excitement. Jacob was scared to death and the picture says it all. But, after the initial shock, he was excited and was visited by the tooth fairy that night. He received a dollar since he was in the States, but the tooth fairy did leave a note telling him she had a hard time finding him and had to put away the pound that she had been saving for him if the tooth fell out in the UK. Very exciting stuff, but for a mom it's the first step in seeing her "baby" become a boy. Bittersweet.

Aiden as a Shepherd!

Yesterday was Aiden's big debut as a shepherd in his school nativity play. I wasn't sure that he would be into it, but when we got there and he saw us he was all smiles. They sang "We wish you a Merry Christmas" after the play (complete with "Oh bring us some figgy pudding!"). It was adorable...well, except for him picking his nose!!

Jacob's School Nativity

It finally feels like Christmas this week - all due to Christmas programs at school. Tradition at Holtspur school is that Year 1 kids do the nativity section of the Christmas program. So, Jacob was an innkeeper. Not the one who lets Mary and Joseph in, one that turns them away. I was totally expecting Jacob to say his lines and be done with it. Afterall, I've been hearing it over and over for the past month - in a British accent as well. But, kids like to surprise their mums. Take a look - maybe he'll follow in his papa's footsteps...

So Thankful

Obviously, Thanksgiving isn't a holiday in England since the whole breakoff from the British Empire and all, but we still celebrated!

A little different this year since we spent the days leading up to the holiday in the hospital, but last night we sat around the table as a family and that is something to be thankful for! The roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings was brought to us by a friend. A perfect way to illustrate the first thanksgiving to the boys. Others sharing food and friendship. We did our usual bit and went around the table to say what we were thankful for this year. Everyone said that they were thankful that Jeb was home. And he seemed pretty thankful for that too as he smiled, laughed and ate for the first time in 4 days. God is good.

Jeb Back in the Hospital

Last week brought about a cough for Jeb. Jeb has always gotten a cough really easy since his stint in the hospital last year, but this time it seemed different. Off to the GP we went. He was prescribed antibiotics for a chest infection and steroids for bronchiolitis. I thought that we had lucked out - we didn't get sent to the hospital. But, Sunday morning I knew that things were bad when Jeb didn't want to do anything but lay on Tom and he refused to eat.

Off to A&E we went and were sent up to the children's ward immediately. I had no idea how bad he was until drs seemed to swarm him checking his stats every 3 minutes and an instant IV in his arm. The doctors said he had severe pneumonia. So, there Jeb laid with an oxygen mask on his face - he didn't even fight it, he was too exhausted. Then the dr. told us he might be moved to ICU. We were worried, but we wanted to do what was best. Tom left to get the boys from our friends who had watched them all day and the dr. came to tell me the chances of him being moved to Oxford were getting low. "Oxford? For what?" I asked. That is where the ICU is. Dumb me, I ask, "Do I just take him in my car?" The dr looked at me like I was crazy. Nope, he'd have to be intebated, put on a ventilator and taken in an ambulance. I was blown away. THANK GOODNESS his breathing improved.

So, we sat. The first night we had breathing treatments every hour. The next day, he didn't need oxygen, but was still breathing hard. Days ran into each other and now here we are on Thursday, 4 days later. I am a zombie dealing with little sleep. Jeb is ready to go home, but just needs to be watched until this afternoon. We expect him home tonight for a night of peace and quiet. We didn't have a private room - we slept in the middle of the ward with 4 other babies and their mums. I will be glad to be in my own bed tonight. Even more glad when my baby smiles again. It's been too long since I saw the sparkle in his eyes and 6 little teeth. I just want my baby back.

How to Negotiate with a Four Year Old

For the past two years, Aiden has been waking after about three hours of sleep with "mild night terrors." It used to be he didn't know what was going on, but now he knows what is happening and it has turned into a way to get mum into the room. It really is awful to watch and hear and we are pulling our hair out trying to fix it. Tonight I think I may have found the cure.

You see, a few months ago Aiden left his beloved blankie in my room. I took it and he seemed to forget about it, but still asks every once in awhile. Tonight when he woke up I broke. I got blankie out. You should have seen his face - he went from histerical screaming to a beaming angel! One condition. I told him that blankie ran away because she got so scared when he screamed and she is only back because she wants to help him by hugging him when he wakes. He took the bait and went back to bed beautifully. Man, I'm good...I think.

Tom thinks I'm crazy and can't believe that I gave blankie back. Anyone care to place a bet on whether this works? I do have my doubts...don't tell my husband.