finally

I've had "blog" on my to-do list every day for a week now, so it's about time I face the music and get a little bit written.  I can't say writing is a passion of mine but I find family history fascinating; therefore, I write.

A couple weeks ago I was able to bring all the boys with me to the airport to pick up my parents from their trip to California.  Often since then Jackson will say, "Grammy, Papa, pane (plane)."  :)  That night our family went to our friend Jose's house for dinner.  He had his mom come cook for us, and she is an AMAZING cook.  We've had her food a number of times, and have never been disappointed.  Of course it was a learning experience for the boys - always good to expose them to different experiences.  :)

Later on that week sickness hit our family.  Boo.  On a Thursday morning Levi threw up at school, so I brought him home.  (One of those situations where it was a little iffy in the morning, and Mike said, "You know if you keep him home he'll be fine, and if you send him to school you'll get a call later...")  He rested and was okay the rest of the day, until around suppertime he threw up again.  The next day he was totally fine, eating and playing normally all day.  Then at bedtime he said he didn't feel well, and he threw up sometime in the night.  The next day I stayed home with him and Jackson, while Mike took Caleb and Logan to his cousin Joe's to go sledding and hang out.  They were fine all day, then around bedtime both were saying they didn't feel well.  Great.  Yup, they both started throwing up.  Ugh.  We cancelled our church duties for Sunday and stayed nestled at home.  Caleb just kept throwing up, couldn't even keep down a sip of water.  :(  Logan didn't throw up anymore, but had a low fever and was just wiped out all day.  Levi was recuperated by this point.  Mike and I were just hoping ourselves and Jackson would stay clear!  It was not to be.  Sunday afternoon Jackson threw up, and then Sunday night it was my turn.  Mike was down on Monday, but never actually threw up (lucky).  It was a fast and furious bug!  Thankfully there was no school Monday anyways, and Mike called in sick to work (he had already called in when I got sick and before he did, just so he could be home to help).  Tuesday Mike felt good enough to go to work, Caleb and I were still lacking energy, he only made it through a half day at school, and then I would say we were back to normal by Wednesday.  Which was good, since EARLY Thursday morning Mike was leaving for a missions trip to Guyana!  Funny story from the sickness, when Jackson had thrown up, I went into his room and he was standing on one end of his crib with the mess on the other end.  I go in his room and he's just like, "Ewwww!!!  Yucky!  Goss! (gross)"

Mike's been gone for almost a week, he has a few more days to go, and so far we're doing alright!  I think the anticipation of it was worse for the boys - Caleb especially was anxious about him going.  The first day was the hardest for me, I'm sure it didn't help that I had trouble falling asleep the night before and then got up at 3am to bring him to the airport.  (It's a little harder for me to be positive when sleep deprived...)  Friday night we had Lea Anne and Heidi over for tacos and a movie (Eric and Boden are on the trip as well.).  Saturday morning I tried taking the boys to the library (somehow I always forget that it never goes well...), and then in the afternoon they spent several hours playing with their friends across the street.  So thankful for nice weather!!  They were able to play outside quite a bit Sunday afternoon as well.  Last night we went to my in-law's for dinner and had a nice time.  Going over to a friend's before church tonight, picking up take-out tomorrow night that friends in AZ wanted to buy for us, and we have other plans Fri and Sat as well.  No down time to feel too sad!  It has been such a blessing to see how the Lord has provided in various ways for this trip.  Mike gets home Saturday night, and it will be great to be together again!