Thankful

Today marks a year since Christian was admitted into the hospital  for dehydration following his adenoidectomy and tube surgery and then a bout of strep.  It was a very stressful time.  He wouldn't eat or drink and was very listless.  It isn't often one of my boys refuses food!!!

Ross was hospitalized a few years ago following a severe asthma attack.  He even arrived at the hospital via ambulance from the doctor's office.  I had been giving him breathing treatments and puffs of his inhaler but those weren't making his breathing any easier.  That was a very scary time.

Every time one of my children has been sick or physically hurt, I couldn't help but think of countless families who live with a terminally ill child.  I can't imagine the emotional, physical, and financial toll it takes on parents and siblings.  I am so thankful that my boys are healthy.  Even though the hospital stays were painful to go through, I praise God for them because it helps me realize how good we have it.  It made me count my blessings!

Wii-discovery

The boys received a Wii for Christmas in 2010.  It was popular in our house for awhile but has been collecting dust.  It usually only gets played when the boys have a friend over or if they get a new game.  Even after receiving a new game, their interest wanes quickly.

David and I started playing it again this past month as part of our exercise regimen.  The boys followed suit and now there is a wait to be able to play.  Even Christian is getting in on the action.  He plays Swordfight and loves knocking his opponent off the platform into the water below.  He is pretty good at it.  He usually scores higher when he isn't even looking at the screen!   He often cries when he loses a match.

Ethan thinks it is funny to make up different characters for the Wii (miis).  His latest one is a man resembling Abraham Lincoln.  He thinks it is hilarious to watch  Abe play three on three basketball or baseball.  He plans on creating one in honor of George Washington on President's Day.

Ross' favorite wii sports games are boxing and bicycling.  He really gets into boxing.  The longer the match the closer he gets to the tv.

It's nice to have this wii-discovery of good clean fun.

It's Been Awhile

I haven't blogged in almost a year and a half.  I can't even really call myself a blogger.  I only wrote two entries before going on my hiatus.  I've thought about coming back to it for a few months and this is my attempt to re-enter the virtual world.

In case you are wondering, we are still unplugged.  We haven't had satellite/cable since August 2010.  We have an antenna on our roof (you can't miss it) in order to receive the local channels.  We lost NBC's transmission a few days after cutting off DISH.  Just recently it has become hard to get our ABC affiliate as well.  We are contemplating getting the most basic package from the cable company just so we can keep all the local channels.  I'll keep you posted on that.  We missed a lot of Baylor's nationally televised football games and just recently we weren't able to view the Super Bowl at home.  We were able to watch the Super Bowl with friends and David hooked up the laptop to our tv in order for me to watch Baylor win their bowl game.

We still use the internet an awful lot.  David and I both got better phones a few months ago.  I have fallen in love with Words With Friends.  My name is joysicem in case any of you are looking for an opponent.  I keep two games going with a coworker, one with a friend, and I am currently playing my first game against my grandmother.  I am really trying hard to beat my grandma since she was an English teacher by profession.  I need to put that 79-year-old in her place!!

I really enjoy playing Words on my new Kindle Fire.  We got that for Christmas.  Christian calls it my "Fire Pad".  He confuses it with my mom's iPAD.  I like to think of it as the poor man's iPAD.  I've read the Hunger Games trilogy, The Wedding Gift, and am now reading Magyk on the kindle fire.  I've read tons of samples of books.  I have really enjoyed sampling different types of books.  I am surprised by how much electronic books cost.  I always thought it would be difficult for me to make the transition from old school books to e-books but I've grown accustomed to them.  Just wish they were cheaper.

The boys are doing great and David is staying busy at his store.  Customers are spending their tax returns right now which is keeping David's store busy.  The boys are already excited for Spring Break and it isn't until the end of March.  Christian just turned three.  Ross turns eight at the end of the month.  Ethan is eleven going on seventeen.  Have you heard of senioritis?  It's what high school seniors develop their last year of high school.  Ethan has fifth gradeitis.  He is all talk about middle school and how different it will be next year.  Middle school is a magical place where everything is better.  We'll see what he says after his first week.  I am praying he finds a great friend(s) next year.  I can't wait to see what unfolds.

David and I started teaching 2nd grade Dlife (Sunday school) at church last August.  We specifically took it so we could have Ross in our class.  This class is boy heavy which is right up my alley.  Our typical attendance is 12 boys and 3 girls.  There is an unspoken rule of a boy's table and a girl's table.  It's pretty funny.  There is really no interaction between the two sexes and when forced to be in close proximity, you would think it was the worst punishment of all.  We have a great time in there.  It's been fun getting to know all of the kids and their quirks.

I plan to blog on a regular basis.  I might even learn how to add pictures.  Hope this peek into my world was interesting to you!  Until next time.