Tuesday, November 26, 2013

On the Mend

We took Jaxen to the doctor today and he just has whatever is going around right now. It needs time to work through his system, I guess. His lungs and ears are clear, which is always good. We can give him medicine for his fever and the doctor did give us medicine for the drainage that is coming from his eyes. Better known as “eye boogies”. But he is hanging in there and doing okay.

At the doctor’s today. 
In his hospital gown, eating crackers.

After his appointment, we went to get his hair cut. This was the first time he sat in the “big boy” chair all by himself. He is so big and it just made my heart hurt a little!

Ms. Jade and Jaxen

That is all I have for you tonight! I am busy wrapping everything up so we can enjoy the next few days with family.


HAPPY EARLY THANKSGIVING!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Weekend Happenings

Friday was very cold and a little rainy.  My favorite kind of day right now. I told Nik I wanted to go out and enjoy the cold weather. So we went shopping. One of our favorite pastimes. Just that morning my blow dryer died, so it was time for a new one.

Jaxen and I…ready to hit the road. 
Plus the apple. Apples are Jaxen’s favorite shopping snack!

That night, Nik and I had a movie date after Jaxen went to bed. I actually stayed up late - it was fun!

Saturday we carried on movie-watching - with a family movie that morning. Jaxen even got to eat his breakfast on the floor of the living room! We watched “Planes” and then I tried to teach Jaxen to be a plane. You know, running around with your arms outstretched and making plane noises?! He just laughed at me, and never really caught on to the whole idea. Oh well.

Saturday Movie Morning!

I also did some cooking….Baked Oatmeal, Deviled Eggs and Peanut Butter Pie. Weird combos, right?! The eggs and pie were for our Church’s Thanksgiving Dinner.

Baked Oatmeal. One of our favorite cold-day breakfast!

 And hot tea in my new favorite Bonita park mug!

Saturday was low-key. Even Jaxen just chilled most of the day….in his new favorite spot.

The fireplace. Yup. Just relaxin’ in the fireplace.
Doesn’t everyone?!

And he loved exploring the Christmas Tree.
He actually clapped the first time he saw it…so cute!

And here is Jaxen in his new favorite shirt from Pepaw Scotty…
”Dale Jr.” 

While eating his cheerios.

It was a great Saturday!

Until the night.

I noticed Jaxen feeling a little warm that evening and so I checked his temp and he was running a low-grade fever. He was not feeling well and coughed most of the night. None of us slept really well. Jaxen was in bed with us. And the fever carried on through today. Currently he is fever-less, but I’m keeping a close eye on him and giving him medicine.

So Jaxen and I had a sick day. Mostly spent on the couch. But that’s what you are supposed to do when you are sick. And I have gotten the best cuddle time with him today. As much as I enjoyed the hours of hugging on my sweet boy, I sure don’t like to see him sick. I hope he continues to feel better.

While we have spent the whole day relaxing indoors…Nik has been out. He went to church this morning and then to the Thanksgiving Dinner (and yes, he brought me home some food!) and then to the store and now out again! He is with the teens giving out baskets of Thanksgiving Dinners to those who probably wouldn’t have a dinner otherwise. This is something they do every year. Most of the food is donated by other church members but what is not, he goes to the store and picks up what is needed. Then they meet to assemble the baskets of food and then go deliver!

I’m excited for this next week, and for the Thanksgiving holiday and excited about seeing family!





Friday, November 22, 2013

Hi...


I hope this post finds everyone healthy and well. Our little sickness has been through myself, Jaxen and has now landed on Nik.

Last night at 10, I was in my garage putting Christmas lights on my tree! And I was sweating. It was so hot and humid last night. And today, cold and drizzly!

Is everyone else feeling insanely busy right now? I sure am. Most of it is at work though. Working in the Music Ministry during the Christmas Season is always fun...but lots of work! So I have lagged behind in blogging this week. There is really not too much to share right now, though. Sorry!

But before I end this post....here are a few pictures of Jaxen that I love....


"Playing - Brushing Teeth"
He loves to brush his teeth and "pretends" all the time!

Jaxen made a Thanksgiving Hat at MDO for
their Thanksgiving Feast they shared this past Thursday.
So cute!

 

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Saturday Morning Bike Ride

This morning after breakfast we got out Jaxen’s bike and played in the driveway. It was a beautiful fall day!

He rode it...




And walked it…



Did some tricks on it…


 And when Nik came out to join us, they even tried to run me over…



And look how cute his monkey pajamas are…


And he picked out some fall leaves (finally!)….


After all the bike fun, Nik threw him in the air. Jaxen just loves it! I have to laugh at this first  picture…it looks fake!



I went to lunch with a friend and while I was gone, Nik texted me this picture...


Our little boy was tired! And he is not feeling great. He is dealing with some kind of cold (I am dealing with it also). But we will survive! 

We are having a lazy Saturday. It’s kind of nice!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

'Tis The Season!

I know it is only November 14 (Happy Birthday, Kay) but I'm ready to decorate for Christmas. I know it is super early and just for the record...I have never decorated for Christmas this early. I'm not sure why exactly I'm ready but here are a few things I've been thinking...
  • I'm ready to start buying some Christmas things for Jaxen...but can't remember what I have already purchased from the after-Christmas-sales!
  • I've had my few fall decorations out since mid-September and I'm tired of them.
  • We are traveling a lot between now and Christmas for various things and when I'm home in December I want to enjoy the decorations, and not stress over putting them out.
  • I can't wait for Jaxen to start enjoying things of the season....trees, lights, nativities, etc.
  • And Thanksgiving is late this year.
Don't think I have rushed fall or Thanksgiving. I have not. Remember, I had fall decorations up since September. And we have done the pumpkin-patch thing, and taken fall pictures, and done Halloween and we still have a few Thanksgiving meals to attend. So, I'm not rushing. I am actually looking forward to Thanksgiving!

Tonight we pulled our Christmas stuff out of the attic. I have not decorated yet, but I will probably start this weekend. Anyone else ready to decorate for Christmas yet?!

I know…even though I want to, it does still sound crazy. I can’t even imagine what my mom is thinking!!!

Before I end this post, I will add a few pics of Jaxen. It has been awhile since I have posted pics of him.


This was Jaxen on Sunday. All dressed and ready for church!


This was from a couple of weeks ago.
He was eating a chocolate chip molten lava cookie. 

He looks kinda like a baby vampire. Which is completely disturbing.

And just so you don’t end on that note…here is a cute pic of my boy.
In honor of Thanksgiving!



Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Church News

First, a Jaxen update: We went to the doctor yesterday and he got his stitches out. The doctor said he was healing well and should have no scars! He is doing great!


**********


The most recent development in our church is that the pastor resigned his position this past Sunday. His last Sunday will be December 15, and then he will move on to a new position elsewhere. He is really excited about his new position and I think it will be really great for him and his family! He is leaving on good terms with the staff, the church board and the congregation. We will be praying for him as he starts this new journey in his ministry.

As for our church….that obviously leaves us without a pastor right now. I’m not sure how everything will go during this transitional period. We are seeking God’s direction for our lives and for the life of our church as we move ahead. Please be in prayer about this with us.





Sunday, November 10, 2013

Stitches

Jaxen has had his first stitches. 

Two, to be exact. 
In his nose. 
Don’t be alarmed…he is okay. 

Thursday, while at Mother’s Day Out, he fell. They called me right when it happened and told me that his nose was bleeding, but that he was okay. He had stopped crying and so they were trying to clean up the blood to see what happened to his nose.

Then they called me back and said it was a cut, at the base of his left nostril and was actually separated from his face. If that makes sense to you.

So I took Jaxen to an urgent care facility and he definitely needed stitches. He did so good while they looked at him and put some numbing cream on his nose. Then it came time for stitches. I left the room and listened to him screaming from outside the door. Not fun. They numbed him more, so I don’t know that he was screaming from being hurt, but more from the fact they had to wrap him like a mummy and hold him down while they did the stitches. It was very quick. Once they were done, I went in and got him calmed down again.

Then we got in the car, went to the church to meet Nik, hoped in the van and headed to Oklahoma!

Jaxen has done great with the stitches. I gave him medicine for the first 24 hours but have not given him anymore. He acts like nothing is wrong and has paid no attention to his nose. We go back on Monday to (hopefully) get the stitches out.


This was the best picture I could get of his stitches. 
It really just looks like he has black snot coming out of his nose!





Saturday, November 9, 2013

11 Year Anniversary

Today Nik and I celebrate our 11th Wedding Anniversary! I can hardly believe it. 11 years sounds like such a long time...especially when you are still struggling to admit you are in your 30's! Not that I am or anything.

Nik has given me some of my best memories and moments in life. He is my very best friend. I love him (and even like him) more now than I did 11 years ago!

Last night we celebrated in style. It was fancy!

First off, I have to tell you that we are on a youth trip. Well, kind of on a youth trip. We brought 4 teens to Oklahoma to check out Southern Nazarene University for College Days. We left Thursday and on Friday morning, we dropped them off at the college. We won’t see them again until we pick them up later today (Saturday).

Jeff, Jonathan, Wesley and Katie - SNU Bound!

So last night we took out the 15 passenger van and went to dinner! Like I said….fancy! One of our friends who lives near here was so kind and stayed at our hotel with Jaxen so we could have dinner alone. Thanks, Meghan!

Our fancy ride!

Just the two of us - 11 years!!!!!

We actually ate at our favorite steak place, Saltgrass, so that was nice! And then it was Dunkin’ Donuts for dessert! This is like a tradition with us now. Everytime we come here, we always end up having Dunkin Donuts for dessert one night!

The sunset showed off for us last night. Bad pictures. But beautiful colors.



Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Youth Room

Nik has been continually working on the youth room on and off for almost a year. There was lots to do, and it is finally almost done!

Last week we all went up to the church one night to work and Jaxen had the best time playing the drums, the piano and singing in the microphone!



Please don’t judge me by his non-matching clothing. It was a last minute decision to go and all Jaxen was wearing at the time was a shirt, diaper and socks. I asked Nik to get him dressed and this is how he came out! And no shoes. So whatever. His outfit did not keep him from ‘singing’ his little heart out!

So while Jaxen played in a one-man-band, we worked. One of the last pieces to finish was what we call the “handprint wall”.

We attached lettering to the wall in the front of the room that says “See, I have engraved you in the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” Isaiah 49:16.



Then on Wednesday night, Nik shared this scripture with the teens and told them how we are all engraved on the palm of God’s hand…never forgotten or forsaken. And each teen put their handprint on the wall. It was such a cool night!







Here are a few other aspects of the room:

A banner with the ministry logo

A wall covered with white board (which is now written all over)
Section 1 - youth announcements / Section 2 - teens personal events 
Section 3 - random artwork / Section 4 - encouraging messages to each other


The teens loved the new handprint wall. We are looking forward to filling the wall up with many more handprints of the teens that come into the youth group!



Sunday, November 3, 2013

New Drums!

Jaxen received a gift last week from a sweet lady in our church. She knows how much Jaxen loves to play the drums and she could not resist purchasing this cute set of drums for him. They are just his size!
 
 
Nik enjoyed playing with him on the drums. I don't know that a guy ever outgrows hitting a drum set when given the opportunity!


 
Thanks to Ms. Shirley for all the fun Jaxen is having with his drums!

Friday, November 1, 2013

Costume Reveal

So if you guessed that Jaxen's costume was an oragne crayon...you were right!

If you guessed a traffic cone...you came close.

First, let me start off with this adorable picture of Jaxen on his 2nd Halloween:


The costume packaging showed to wear the costume with a long sleeve black shirt and black pants.
Well, Wednesday night when I realized it...it was too late. So gray shirt and jeans, it was!

And here is a view from the back...for those that thought traffic cone:


He was adorable in his outfit. Everyone said so, so it's not just me :)


And I know there were probably other organge-crayon-dressed kids out there,
but Jaxen was the only one I saw!

For the record, I bought this adorable pumpkin candy-holder-thing to use
when we went trick-or-treating. See how cute?

And then I left it at home.

You can tell I'm a newbie.

I left my child's candy-holder-thing AT HOME.

When we got to our first stop (Trunk or Treat at FBC) we got out of the car
and that is when I realized he had no place to put his candy!

Thankfully, the people in charge anticipated newbies like me and
he got a plastic sack. Not near as cute. But it worked.

As a side note....I feel terribly guilty taking candy from people, knowing
my child will only eat about 2% that he gets. I actually kept telling people
"No thanks - he has enough candy".

And then I got the Nik-glare. It’s powerful.

And I stopped saying it!

So are you ready for cute pics of Jaxen trick-or-treating?!

There are none.

Sorry.

He was too hard to wrangle at the FBC Trunk or Treat.
You wouldn't really think so.
But you can take my word.

Then we stopped at a friends house...
And I forgot to take a picture.

Then we came home and spent the rest of the evening passing candy out
from our neighbor's driveway.

Actually, Jaxen was putting the candy in kids candy-holder-things!
He did so good, and it was so cute to see him doing it.
Everyone loved it!

Thankfully, I did take a few pictures that afternoon when I tried his outfit on him.
This was before I adjusted the elastic strap that you see in the pictures. That I so classy
attached to the inside of the hat with safety pins.





Question: what are the candy-holder-things called? buckets, baskets....I'm not sure.

And we had a 3rd dinner fail this week. Sheesh!
We were going to grill chicken and corn on the cob....from Tuesday.
But guess what? No propane still.
So we went with Sonic's $.50 corn dogs for dinner Thursday night....YUMMY!

And just in case you were wondering....
Jaxen has slept through the night twice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm still a bit sleep deprived though (he woke up around 5 this morning).
I'm blaming this ridiculous post on that. Grin.