Christmas 2011

Well, it has almost happened again! I have nearly gone an entire month without a blog post. Shame on me. What is my excuse this time you might ask? Well, let's see, it could be Christmas concerts and shopping and MOPs events and classes and grading and dr. appointments and even laundry...but lately it has been the emergency room.

We had a rough start to the holiday season you could say. Gil, while at work December 15, suddenly got a bad pain in his stomach. Thinking it could be an appendicitis he went and saw a nurse at Briar Cliff. She said it probably was not an appendicitis, but rather a virus that had been going around. Gil called me to come get him because he was so sick and vomiting that he couldn't drive. He spent the rest of the evening in terrible pain, but still thinking it was just the flu because of the nausea. After the kids were in bed he finally decided we ought to head to the emergency room to get it checked out. I was thinking kidney stones by this time, but his pain was in his stomach rather than the back. Well, sure enough the doctor confirmed a kidney stone diagnosis. They admitted him to the hospital (we were in Wayne) and got him on some morphine and fluids and anti-nausea meds. I stayed with him that night. He was completely depleted from vomiting so much and the intense pain. The next day we had hope that the stone would pass. From the scan it wasn't too large and he was on all that fluid. But the afternoon it still had not passed, but he was feeling pain-free. We decided to go home and wait it out there with pain meds. But by the middle of the night the pain and nausea were back despite the medicine. All day Saturday he laid on the couch and couldn't do a thing. By Sunday morning we decided he needed to go back to the hospital. He could not properly hydrate himself to get the stone moving because of the nausea. So, we went back to the ER and Gil was readmitted. He stayed that night again...and the next night....still no stone had passed. We wanted to go home, but were afraid he would just be too sick again. On Tuesday we decided we needed to leave the Wayne hospital (small and unable to do the procedure to remove the stone). He got an appointment with a urologist at UNMC in Omaha the next day, the day we were planning to leave for his parent's house to celebrate Christmas. We were hopeful! The appointment went well, but they said since it was an elective surgery he would have to schedule it and the soonest they could get him in was in a week. We took it, but hoped it would pass on it's own before then and that he would stay feeling well. Unfortunately the nausea and vomiting was back that evening. I called back to the urologist in the morning to see about nausea meds, but they told us to come into the ER....SO third trip to the ER that day. That was quite a process, but we really hoped he would finally get surgery. The doctors told us the operating rooms were quite busy and he was on a list, but they thought it might happen that day (Thursday) or for sure the next. We sat there all day, Gil hooked up to his faithful IV and not eating, me reading magazines and watching reruns of "Everybody Loved Raymond." Finally by six o'clock that night I needed to get home to the kiddos and it didn't look like surgery would happen until the following day. Gil's dad came in to relieve me and I headed home, bummed that we would have to wait another day. Just when I arrived back at his parent's house, John called. They had taken Gil to pre-op!!! Yay!!! He would be home that night after all, I figured. Surgery is quick and recovery too. But John called back about two hours later to say that he was bumped and back in his room. No surgery. He was told noon the next day (Friday). That was the day of the Buhman Christmas in Missouri, so Gil's mom and sisters took Jude down with them while John kept Cora at home and spent some time at the hospital with us. The doctor came in at 11am (yes, before noon!) and took him to pre-op again. This time I got to go along. We hadn't been there for more than five minutes before they came to tell us the doctor would not be available for another couple hours...back to the hospital room we went. We were beginning to feel quite defeated at this point. But we hadn't been up in the room more than five minutes before another doctor came to say a different urologist was available if we were willing to go with him. By that point we were willing to go with a stranger off the street (almost!). So back to pre-op we went. And it was for real this time!!! There was a lot to surgery and waiting and pre-op and recovery, but basically he was done in an hour and back in his room in two. Unfortunately, the doctor thought there might be some infection and wanted him to stay ANOTHER night. We hung out again all day in the hospital, but at least Gil was feeling better, could eat, and the stone was GONE! He came home Christmas Eve morning and has been feeling better and better ever since. What an ordeal! We are just so glad it is finally over. And all the time I was talking about "daddy" being in the hospital to the kids, I was just glad I knew he would be getting better soon.

So after all that we still had one day left to celebrate with the Ridenour's! We then came home Christmas morning to celebrate with the Koester's. Here are some pictures to document (they are all out of order...sorry!). I'm feeling bad that I didn't get any of Gil in the hospital, but I'm sure he doesn't feel too bad about it!

Merry Christmas From the Ridenour Family!

Cora playing at our home Christmas celebration.
Jude opening his presents at home.
Mommy and Cora opening presents at the Ridenour's
Jude standing by Papa John's new wise man.
Aunt Alissa with Cora Clare.
Ashtyn and Jude with their recordable books of the first Christmas (from Nana and Papa)
Our tree. Sorry, not a very good pic. It is VERY VERY tall!
Jude by grandma and grandpa's tree. He could say, "Happy Birthay, Jesus" to turn the lights on (remote control!)
Jude and Aunt Brittany.
Mitch with little Sarai.
Gil and I the day we came home!
The Herrick's
Cora at six months
Another six month pic
The two baby girls checking each other out.
Kids with Papa John
Sarai Ann

blessings

I try not to think about it. It is easier that way. I don't get sad, angry, or anxious that way. But sometimes I do think about it. I can't help it. I hate that I'm not with my kids all day. I hate that I have to pump instead of feeding Cora in the morning. I hate that I don't know what Jude eats for lunch, or if he eats well, or if he went on the potty chair, or if he listened, or what was done about it. I hate that I don't see my kids awake on most days until close to 2pm, and then they are grumpy and need naps. And then I am grumpy if they won't take naps because as much as I want to see them and spend time with them I also have a million other things I feel like I should get done when I get home. So instead of spending time with me they usually spend time "alone". I hate that as much as I want to be with my kids all day they still drive me crazy and I lose my patience too often. I hate that I don't know what to do to when Jude won't help pick up or when Cora is refusing to sleep. I hate that I get overwhelmed when the house is a disaster area and all I can think about is how I want it to get picked up and put the kids to bed and have peace. I hate that i haven't had a full nights sleep in over six months. I hate that ministry and teaching doesn't pay like doctors or lawyers or bankers or fill in the blank. I hate that Gil and I both have advanced degrees and still can barely scrape by.

In the spirit of the season I also have to be thankful. I am so thankful for so many things. I am thankful that we have a daycare to bring out children to and that they enjoy going. I am thankful that Jude gets to play with other kids. I am thankful that we have jobs (that we enjoy even if they pay terrible!) and a home and food and health (I have always thought being thankful for health was a little silly. It has just hit me recently how real that blessing is!). I am thankful that my husband gets the kids ready and brings them to daycare each morning (he does this way better than me!), and that he arranges his schedule to be able to spend time with them and me. I am thankful that we have family and both our parents nearby and that they help us out in innumerable ways. I am thankful for my savior.

I have a lot of internal conflict...but I will try to count my blessings:)

Brittany, we just made and sent you this card!!! It probably won't make it to you until after this weekend, but we love you and are proud of you!!!

5x7 Folded Card

Lovely Branches Green 5x7 folded card

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View the entire collection of cards.

face lift

I have been contemplating all of my favorite past times...running, reading, shopping, writing, music, devos...and how I rarely get to do them these days! Then I decided to change my blog background and I discovered that it is like online shopping...plus free!!! So I guess there is one outlet covered. Now, how to find a substitute for the rest?

Folding clothes is next on my agenda. Could that be like music to my ears? I think not, however I could listen to music while folding. Or better yet a book on tape!

I am still struggling with fitting in exercise. I even bought a Dancing with the Stars tape to motivate me. I've done it once.

Jude has learned how to open his baby gate on his door today and is now sneaking out and waking up his sister. Time to go! Here is my running!

SICK

Sick seems to be a constant state at our house lately. I usually pride myself in how few sick days I have to take as a teacher. Not so after kids! Since the beginning of this year I have had two colds and the stomach flu with another cold seeming to be on its way now. Gil has had a cold for the better part of the quarter it seems. Although Jude hasn't had too bad of a runny nose or cough, he is the one who brought the terrible stomach flu home from daycare one day only to have me contract it five days later, and now Cora a whole two weeks later. I'm not really sure if what she has is the same thing or not. Who ever knows what an infant has!? It is so nice that now Jude is able to tell us a little bit about how he is feeling (even if he isn't able to puke into a container instead of on his bed or the couch yet...). In fact last night around 1am he woke up to tell us he was sick and wanted to sleep with daddy. Throughout the questioning we are pretty sure we discovered the "sick" was that his leg fell asleep and hurt enough to wake him up! Cora on the other hand...she is a mystery. She has had a low-grade fever for the past three nights and just hasn't seemed her smiley self. Then last night after a three hour nap she went to sleep early, only to wake up at 10:30pm with a higher fever and to throw up (not just spit up!). Poor girlie! So last night was crazy with her in the baby swing so I could hear her better and then Jude in our room for a bit after he got "sick." I really struggled with what to do today. My class was attending a field trip to the orpheum and a museum in Sioux City (not to mention the mall!!!). I really wanted to go. But Gil had to teach today and if both of us were in Sioux City and unable to be there if she got sick again...then what!? I had to make the decision before she was up so I really couldn't gage how she was feeling. I decided I needed to stay home and I think I am glad I did (although that is now 3 days down for school so far). Cora is feeling much better I think (no more throwing up), but she still isn't quite herself and she has slept most of the day. It is probably good to be home for her though to get more rest than she would at daycare. Also for me to be able to nurse her when she needs/wants.

Then there was Jude today. He has been GREAT! It seems like on school days I get the short end of the stick because I usually leave before he is really up and by the time I pick him up from daycare he is so ready for a nap that his behavior is something to behold. I typically get a tantrum or two or three before we make it to his bedroom... and then it's sometimes a battle with the nap. But today he hasn't had one fit, not even when he had to put the ipad away (that is a first!) PLUS he didn't take a nap. Now I really would've rather he take one than spend the hour and a half in his room playing and hollering for me constantly...but if he's gonna be so good without it I can hardly complain. Despite how energetic and social he is, Jude plays so well by himself.

A new great thing Jude is doing is that he will occasionally burst into song! I love it! Right now, in fact, he is singing "Hey Jude." It's great! I've also heard "Jesus Loves Me" and "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." Oh, and we recently discovered that they pray before eating at daycare because he started saying the "God is good" prayer one night:) Another one of my favorites from Jude is his word "beautiful." He uses it all the time and it is just so cute! He pretty much gets the concept of beautiful, but uses it for things you wouldn't normally, like the jelly toast that I made him the other morning. He has yet to call me beautiful, but he has told me my shoes and earrings are!

Cora is almost on the move now. She squirms all over! She also loves to hear her voice. If she likes to talk as much as her big brother does we could be in for a battle of the voices around here! She is almost sleeping through the night, usually only gets up once before I do at 6ish. She is also getting into eating her cereal. I have been trying to get some baby food prepared before her six month mark. In fact I made a batch today (sweet potatoes from Grandpa Great's garden--thanks Carolyn!) and another on a day I was home sick (squash)! So I guess these days have been good for something:)

September where did you go?

I somehow managed to skip the entire month of September on my blog....hmmmmm...must mean the Ridenour's have a few other priorities at the top of the list lately. Actually, I have (as I always say) a million thoughts throughout the day that I think could be turned into a fabulously witty post, but then by the time I have a minute to put it into words I have forgotten already. One of the things I have been thinking lately is how I seem to never do anything and yet have no time. How does this happen?!? I guess the answer is kids! I really shouldn't say that I don't do anything because my kids are dressed, fed, played with, napped, cleaned (sometimes!), etc. That is about all I can squeeze into the day after I get home from school at 2pm.

Along these same lines, I have been contemplating my still larger-than-before midsection lately and this is my conclusion: I can either 1.) Exercise and feel guilty that I am not with my kids/husband or doing one of the many things on my to-do list or 2.) Get used to it and feel guilty that I am not exercising! I don't really like guilt. I think I need to find a happy medium somewhere. Like doing a little of both. Still working on the logistics of that though. I thought nap time was the answer, but I just can't seem to get it done because my other source of guilt is that I'm not doing enough for my class. Which really turns into stress because I can't get it all done. Sometimes people ask me how I do it all. The answer is I don't! I fall short in every area. Exercise is one area, but I'm also feeling like I don't do enough school work or play with my kids enough or cook good meals enough. I think I need a clone to do my exercising!

On another note, Jude seems to be boycotting napping altogether lately, but he still needs it...any suggestions?!

Here is a little of our month of September:

Cora and I on Blue and Gold day for Allen's homecoming. This weekend we got haircuts, went to the football game, went to the swap meet, went to Missouri for Gil's grandpa Gilbert's 89th birthday, and decided not to go to my friend's engagement party (sorry Jamie!!!).
Here are Jude and Cora hanging out.
This is what my couch looks like typically. Last night after I dumped a load of diapers on the empty couch Gil commented, "Oh, the couch was so happy to be free for three hours!"
Here is Cora in her "new toy" as Jude calls it. She is enjoying spending some time here.
We finally got to meet baby cousin Sarai. Here are the Ridenour grandparents with the three amigos!

And here is Cora with Sarai, just 10 weeks apart.

The Second Child

Here is Jude at 3 months...

And here are more pictures of our little angel! Monday she was 3 months. With Jude I took a picture each month on the very day he turned one month older. So far with Cora I am 0 for 3 for getting the exact day...must be that second child thing. So anyway, Monday I forgot...but I made up for it on Tuesday and Wednesday when we had a couple photo shoots together during big brother's nap. Here are some that turned out pretty good I thought. She doesn't like to smile at the camera because she gets a little distracted...but I managed to capture a couple. So, do you think they look alike or different?!?

Baby Cousin!

Here are some pictures to update what we've been doing lately...we have crammed a TON of stuff into our last few weeks of summer...getting two beagle puppies and dog sitting a boxer puppy for 10 days, a trip to Missouri to visit Gil's family, the Dixon County Fair, and my grandma's 80th birthday celebration in Yankton. I wish we could've swung a trip to San Antonio to visit the little darling above. That is NOT Cora, but Mitch and Minette's (Gil's sister and her husband's) baby girl. Sarai Ann was born August 3 and we LOVE getting new pictures of her every day. Jude loves that he has a "baby cousin." I just love the yawning picture:)

Well, I start school on Monday, so farewell to freedom:(

Here is Cora. This one was taken yesterday. She was wearing her pants outfit because of the mild (like in the 70's!!!) weather we have been having:) She is busy growing and changing and it is hard to believe she isn't a tiny baby anymore. Right now she loves to "talk" to us and grab onto things with her hands.
Here she is one night at the fair. People seem to think her blue eyes might stick. We'll see!
This is the Demoliton Derby. Jude loved it!

This was the first ride. The Dragon roller coaster. Jude loved watching it and was excited to ride...

But wasn't so sure at first...

Then he got into it! He rode with Ashtyn and our friend Libby's little girl Anneke.

After the dragon the elephants were nothing!

This is at the horse show with Teirney Peterson and Ashtyn
I even got to ride one of the rides with him!

This next one is the dress that I made for Ashtyn for her 3rd birthday on August 8. I took a t-shirt and added a skirt and yellow buttons. I used Jude as my model (but I didn't make him wear the matching headband!). It is way too long for him, but Ashtyn is taller. I think it is a little long on her too, but maybe she can wear it next summer?! It was kinda tough to make, but tons of fun. I think I'll be better at it the next time around!

And here is a video of Cora playing with her toys!

Finally, our two new puppies (not so new anymore really!) Baylor is the black male and Briar Rabbit is the browner female. They love/hate each other and are a blast to watch. Now if Gil can just get them to make it through the night without a potty break. I say as long as I'm getting up in the night to feed the baby, he might as well be taking care of something too! On the up side of that though...Cora slept 8 hrs Wednesday night (but not last night...)!!!

And here are all the dogs we had for a while. The boxer is our friend's named Milah. This is the best shot I could get of all the dogs plus Jude!