Little Big Riggs

Christmas Traditions

2011-12-11T15:24:00.000-08:00

Like most other homes that celebrate Christmas, I grew up with many holiday traditions. We didn't have lots of money or give or receive lots of presents when we were little, but my parents still managed to create memories that I will always cherish.

On Christmas Eve I would always be awakened by the sound of a running vacuum. Always. That would be my dad preparing 12 hours in advance for the yearly party we would host on the evening of December 24. Once mostly awake, I'd be directed to the Pledge and a rag since it was my duty to clean all the side tables, the coffee table, and pretty much anything with a flat surface so that our house would be dust-free for the party. Sadly, it wasn't till I was older that I realized my mother, who was born on Christmas Eve, would spend her entire birthday in the kitchen preparing the meals for our celebration with 40+ guests. We stopped the December 24th party when she got sick and never resumed it after she passed away, but I think it takes a humble mom to create a festive atmosphere for family and friends on a day that should have been spent celebrating her.

But my mom's humility was counteracted by my dad's antics when it came time to sing Christmas carols. All our party guests would cram into our little living room, which necessitated an open front door for fresh air's sake. The printed list of songs and lyrics would go around, and my dad's show would begin. You see, he felt that caroling time needed an emcee and, as the host of the party, he was the natural choice. I suppose singing these Christmas songs would have been pleasant if they were sung normally, but not so with my father. Things pretty much got out of hand when my mom received a "12 Days of Christmas" bell collection one year. Those bells became props for the song and groups of people (assigned by my dad) would take turns singing their "day" and ringing their bell. But no one could really sing days 4,3, or 2 on their own because my dad would always chime in. Always. Whereas normal people would sing it like this:

"4 calling birds, 3 French hens, 2 Turtledoves..."

my father would sing it like this:

"4 calling cards, 3 French toast, 2 turtlenecks..."

Now imagine those words being sung with a heavy Filipino accent. Now imagine a roar of laughter from the crowd. Now imagine that same show year after year. Yep, that's my dad.

So it's probably been at least 17 years since my family's last Christmas Eve party. I must admit that I miss all the food, the joyous gathering of family and friends, and my dad's unique way of singing carols. Maybe I'll consider starting similar traditions for my own family. I'll have to make due without my mom's bell collection or my dad's accent, but I do have a vacuum and lots of Pledge. And that's how great Christmas memories begin.

[See World Vision's "12 Blogs of Christmas"]

Recess

2011-10-04T15:21:00.000-07:00

I admit that my kids don't get out as often as they should. As a mother of 4 boys, that means subjecting myself to a bunch of crazed kids bouncing off the walls and screaming as if each was separated from the other by a mile-long chasm.

So I finally decided to change up recess (actually, I decided to GIVE them recess, THEN I changed it up) and go old school. Nope, I didn't play an "80s mix tape". Instead, I grabbed some chalk, an all-purpose rubber ball, and took my two oldest boys outside.

They stood in wonder as I drew a really big square on the driveway and divided it into 4 equal squares. They looked at me as if I was some kind of alien when I declared "Let's play!" It only took a few times with the ball whizzing past for them to understand what they had to do to win - actually, to NOT LOSE against their mother. And despite an unmanned square, we had enough stamina to play for an entire hour.

It was 60 minutes of attacking, defending, and strategizing. It was also 3600 seconds of gloating, pouting, screaming and laughing. I was taken back to the kind of playground fun I had 30 years ago (ahem, yes 30 years). But this time, instead of being intimidated by my opponents, I was relishing each and every move. This game, which required no controllers, no batteries, and no screen, was proving to be a really enjoyable time for all of us. Even Jonah expressed his surprise when he said, "They actually invented this fun game BEFORE you were young??"

Now I don't recall being this sore after playing four square. But I suppose it's worth it, seeing as I've still got my "square skillz" and, now, two very special people to play with. Perhaps in the days to come we'll spend recess playing more of the old school stuff like handball or Chinese jump rope. Or, if I'm really sore, maybe recess will simply involve popping in that 80s mix tape and listening to songs - together.

Passing the Buck

2011-09-13T15:52:00.000-07:00

Me: *big sigh*
Jonah: Yes, mom. We KNOW you have lots of stuff to keep you busy around here.
Me: Well, YOUR brothers aren't napping so it will make for a very interesting evening.
Jonah: Yes, for YOU and YOUR husband.

As if my *sigh* was a big long list of complaints.

As if it's Jonah's fault that Jack and Jed are playing in their rooms instead of sleeping.

As if Justin and I are in charge of taking care of everyone. Oh, wait...

The Truth and Nothing But The Truth

2011-08-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32

So my husband and I are trying our darndest (by the grace of God) to teach our boys about telling the truth - always. We've studied about what it means to lie, praised them for being truthful and disciplined them for being untruthful. When you combine a spirit of truthfulness with the inherited trait of candor, this is what you get:

"I know why you eat fast, Mom. It's because your mouth is big."

Not entirely untrue. Having 4 sons leaves me a few milliseconds to stuff my face with whatever to appease my hunger so, yes, I eat quickly. 13 years ago I had 8 more teeth than I do now because I had braces put on so apparently I can fit a lot in there. And I tend to blurt things out before thinking so... fine. I wonder what would have been said had they known my mouth was even bigger before braces.

"Mom, I like it better when Dad is home with us because he doesn't scold us as much and he says 'yes' to most of our requests."

This I can't deny. In fact, I often encourage more "daddy time" to spare my kids of my wrath and give them more opportunities to get what they want. Did I mention that "daddy time" would also give me the opportunity to go to Target or get some coffee by myself or hide in the bathroom so I could hear myself think? But this is really about what's best for the children...

So, yes, I know sometimes the truth hurts. But how can I feel slighted if my boys are just exercising obedience from the lessons they're learning? I can't and I don't - especially when they also speak truthful words like "I love you, Mom."

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

2011-08-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

The last time I went on a real-life road trip was back in the late 70s. My dad, mom, and brothers drove our yellow Ford wagon and made a round trip to Kansas from California to visit my aunts and their families. Back then, there were no car seats, no DVD players, and definitely no air conditioning - at least in our car. The only entertainment we had was each other, and the novelty in that lasted about a millisecond. I hated having to wake up in the middle of the night so my dad could "beat traffic", hated that the radio was always set to "oldies", and hated the feel of green vinyl seats in the middle of summer driving through the desert. Why, then, would I ever make a similar trip with my husband and kids? Simply because some things don't change.

14 days - We left on a Sunday and returned two weeks later. While the DVD player and iPads (true gifts from God) entertained the kids most of the time, we were still physically together 24 hours a day. Technically, they slept in a separate room at Papa's house and my brother's house, but the frequency with which we had to check on them might as well count as being with them all the time. Have you ever been with someone nonstop? For two weeks? I'm talking all.the.time. "Spending time with the kids" has a whole new meaning now. So does "migraine".

3850 miles - That's a whole lot of driving. But it's also a whole lot of scenery to experience. The boys were amazed at the tiny dust storms along the roads in Arizona. We were in awe at the red mesas of New Mexico. Texas was like driving through one big grey storm cloud. Oklahoma was green with trees and brown with dormant pastures, spotted with the browns and blacks of horses and cows. Kansas was, well, flat Kansas. But seeing it all in person was more amazing and memorable than looking at pictures on Wikipedia.

6 states - How the culture differs outside of California! We heard more "ma'ms" and "sirs" and not so many "dudes", and really got a kick out of the "y'alls". The speed limit is still 55mph in some places. "Traffic" consisted of slowing to 30mph and the major highways had only three lanes on each side. And what the heck is "pop"? It's called a SODA! But the best culture shock of all? Two words: frozen custard.

So with 3850 miles and 6 states under our belt, we're pretty confident we can do it again. We've started looking at the calendar for upcoming holidays and considering friends we can visit. With so much to see and so much more family time to be enjoyed, my next road trip blog will probably be titled "How I Spent My Weekend".

Have Mercy!

2011-06-16T15:31:00.000-07:00

"Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

When I was younger (a lot younger!) I used to play that game "Mercy" with my brothers. It's the game where two players face each other and grab their opponent's opposite hands and interlock fingers. Each opponent attempts to bend the other's hands back and inflict pain by straining the ligaments and tendons in the wrist. When a player can't stand the pain or overpower the opponent, the player cries out "Mercy!" As the youngest sibling with three older brothers, who do you think always lost??

Now I rarely play that game now, but my cries for mercy still exist. Merriam-Webster defines mercy as "compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject of one's power". Are we not all offenders in the eyes of the Lord? Do we not fall short according to His commands? Don't my four sons send me over the edge? Yet by His mercy He withholds the punishment I deserve for my less-than-perfect antics (Romans 6:23).

Many times this whole "mercy" thing has brought me to tears. Playing the game with my brothers often led to straining and cracking joints followed by tears of pain. But just a few days ago the tears I shed were a result of God's mercy upon someone else. A friend who had been in my daily prayers for a few years opened his heart to Christ. The Lord spared my friend and waited for him to accept Him. God's mercy exuded in His longsuffering and once again I was reminded why His faithfulness is as great as Jeremiah claimed it to be in the book of Lamentations.

So while mercy is not anything we deserve, but definitely desire, know that the Lord is much more compassionate than my older brothers, and He is more than willing to bestow His compassion upon us if we just ask. And we won't even have to get our wrists bent way back to receive it.

Sweet Memories

2011-05-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

It's been a few months since my last blog entry and I realize it's because, frankly, my life is boring. Busy AND boring, hence the lapse. Then I also realized that I spend a lot of time searching for recipes online and am always interested in other people's food stories. So, I decided to fill in the gaps between exciting bloggable moments in my life (all eight of them) with blogs about my own food adventures. Although some some of these events happened a while ago, one thing about food that never spoils is the experience that goes with it.

Last summer my aunt came to visit from the Philippines. It had been 14 years since we last saw her and 15 years since my mother passed away. Of her 2 month stay in the U.S. she spent a week with me and Justin and the boys. Usually, when relatives come visit from the Phil., they bring gifts called "pasalubong". But she brought with her much more: a pair of extra helping hands, memories and stories of my mom, and a whole lot of baking expertise! She taught me how to make ensaymadas (pic), a Filipino brioche topped with butter and cheese. I had only eaten the ensaymadas they sell at Goldilock's Bakery and Red Ribbon BakeShop, which I think are pretty darn good. But making them from scratch resulted in the best ensaymadas I've ever had! Was it because of the fresh ingredients? Maybe. Or the fact that I made them myself (ok, with help)? Perhaps. But for certain they were made sweeter because of my time to chat and learn and bake with my Tita. Now I've only made these two times, and that was when my aunt was here. But I do have hopes of making them again soon so I can once again participate in the delicious, highly caloric, memory-evoking experience that they are.

"Hey, Bert!"

2011-03-19T21:39:00.000-07:00

If anyone ever asked me how I know God exists, I would answer with a list of all the wonderful blessings in my life: Jesus, a faithful husband, awesome sons... and eyebrow threading. I believe that God created eyebrow threading just for me and that all this time other people get to benefit from it.

If you knew me any time before 1991 you knew that I had eyebrows that gave Bert from Sesame Street a run for his money. And it didn't help that I grew up with three older brothers who offered no aesthetic advice to me whatsoever. So it wasn't until I was almost 20 years old that I finally started plucking my eyebrows, which shed a new light (literally, since my hairy eye awnings were trimmed) on the way I thought I should look. To this day I am still in awe that Justin chose to date me during my pre-plucking days.

But it wasn't until very recently that I discovered this miracle from heaven that is eyebrow threading. My first visit was only a few months ago to a place recommended by a friend whose sense of style I trust - plus the place only charged $4.99! I thought I had been doing a decent job with the tweezers myself all these years, but the large amount of time the threader spent on my face made me think otherwise. She broke the thread at least 4 times. She also used scissors (I didn't know eyebrows needed to be CUT, too - maybe just mine?) and I have a feeling she would have used the electric clippers if she had them. Then I think she raked my face to finish the job, and had to sweep the floor when she was done.

But I must admit that the result was amazing. My eyebrows had shape! They were sleek! They were clean and organized! They didn't make me look like I was surprised all the time! They gave my face a whole new look, and at $4.99 +$1 tip I can afford to go back again and again!

So now I can keep counting my blessings... one eyebrow hair at a time.

For the Love of Chocolate

2011-02-23T09:27:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know Valentine's Day was over a week ago, so I figured I should delay no longer in sharing about one of my greatest loves: See's Candy dark nougats. I received 1/2 lb. of these babies from my husband on Valentine's Day. I had to restrain myself from devouring the entire box that first night, and I'm glad I didn't immediately eat the whole thing for the following reasons:

-The next few days with my kids made me want to drink myself silly and hide in a corner never to be found. But seeing as I don't drink and whisking myself away to a remote location would be considered child abandonment, I drowned my frustrations in prayer and a few pieces of dark nougats. When Justin came home, he'd check the chocolate box to gauge how bad my day had been. Things got better with around 4 pieces left.
-Following those trying days, I noticed my face start to break out. Stress related? Possibly. Chocolate related? Definitely. Oh, my boys have stressed me to the outer limits before. But Valentine's Day comes once a year and, with the arrival of my favorite candy, so do pimples like the ones I had. Just when I thought my problems had been solved by the mass consumption of what I consider heaven in chocolate form, I began to resemble my 7th grade school picture. I don't even want to THINK about what my face would have looked like if I had eaten all of it that first or second day.

So I am pleasantly surprised that I still have two pieces of dark nougats left one week after Valentine's Day. They are tokens of how much my husband loves me, and a reflection of how my vanity has motivated my restraint. And, as long as they last, they will be reminders that it is better to be zit-faced than to leave my children at the curb. Ah, the things I do for love.

The Morning Dance

2011-02-07T10:01:00.000-08:00

Like many of you, I look forward to my morning cup of coffee. Unlike many of you, I have four sons who also have their morning needs so, more often than not, I don't get to enjoy my coffee freshly made, nice and hot. I have a mental schedule of everything I need to do for them in the morning and somewhere at the end I have "eat breakfast" listed for myself. If I told you this schedule your eyes would probably pop out of your head, and if I told you what has to happen daily I'm sure your head would explode.

Well, today is momentous because not only did I get to that "eat breakfast" part for myself, it worked out like a beautifully rehearsed sequence of events. First, I heated up the water for my coffee (I use a French press). Then, while the water got hot, I washed out the press (I have a bad habit of not washing it after I use it) and scooped into it the coffee grounds. I sliced my bread and put it into the toaster oven. I turned on the stove to heat my pan. The water boiled so I poured it into the press and set the timer for exactly 4 minutes. I scrambled my eggs (whites only) and put it into the pan. I poured milk into my coffee mug and put it in the microwave to heat (1 minute 15 secs to be exact). I cooked the eggs till they were done and turned off the oven. "Ding!" went the microwave to indicate the milk was heated. I put two teaspoons of sugar into my mug of hot milk. "Ding!" went the timer, so I poured the pressed coffee into my mug. "Ding!" went the toaster oven and out came my toast. It all came together, my exquisitely choreographed meal of the morning.

Now with one son on the potty, another running laps up and down the hallway, another reading the numbers 1-100 at the top of his lungs and another asking questions related to equivalent decimal numbers, the morning dance is gradually turning into noontime freestyle. But I certainly relished my 7 minutes of order and trust that I will get through the afternoon's mental list with the help of another cup of coffee - even if it is lukewarm.

Mr. Potato Head

2011-01-21T13:23:00.000-08:00

[*WARNING: The following blog entry contains detailed descriptions of bowel movements and bowel movement products and may not be appropriate for those with weak constitutions.]

I am having the darndest time potty training Jed - I started in August and he's only mastered peeing in the toilet, and even that is only when he's reminded to go or I catch him dancing around trying to hold it. Everyone knows children learn by example so I tried that whole "oh read this book and use the baby doll and the baby doll potty and show how the baby goes and doesn't need a diaper anymore and he'll learn by the end of 24 hours" thing. Um, NOT! That was one of the most tiring days of my life! But, I do agree with him "learning by example," so I have let Jed watch his older brothers poop in the potty. And, yes, I let him watch me go, too (sorry if that's tmi), but that hasn't been working, either.

So, enter Mr. Potato Head. No, no, I'm not talking about what almost comes out of Jed every time I sit him on the potty. No, Mr. Potato Head has become Mr. Incentive. Jed got MPH as a gift at Christmas, and seeing how excited he was to play with it, I (being the cool mom I am) put it way out of his reach on top of the fridge and told him he couldn't have it until he pooped in the potty. So, weeks went by, until finally it happened. I don't know who screamed louder in excitement between Jed and me when Jed let out a big one in the toilet, but MPH got to come out of his box and Jed had a grand time playing with him. But, since we all know good things don't last forever, MPH has had to retake his spot on top of the fridge when Jed decides to let the poop out in his underwear and all over Lightning McQueen. There are even days when Jed hasn't gone and I want to say to him "Look at Mr. Potato Head! I want YOU to make something that looks like THIS come out of your body and drop into the toilet!" But I don't. I get REALLY close, but I don't.

Today was a good day. Jed went poop in the toilet this morning. MPH has been out and about all day and I really pray he gets to stay out of his box and off the top of the fridge tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that. And for weeks after that. Because, friends, I still have to potty train Jack, and Mrs. Potato Head wants to come down off the fridge, too.

Top Ten 2011

2011-01-19T22:25:00.000-08:00

Top Ten Reasons I Will Start Blogging Again:

10. Twitter only allows up to 140 characters per tweet which is SO not enough.

9. This is the 3rd year in a row I've vowed to "start blogging again" so why break tradition?

8. I can now turn my back on my kids long enough to type at least two sentences.

7. I love to write almost as much as I love to talk, but since I'm with 4 boys aged 9 and under most of the day, I have better conversations with my keyboard.

6. How many husbands do YOU know who want to stay up all night listening to their wives vent?

5. I'm one of the few who doesn't play "Angry Birds".

4. I need to shamelessly plug my new side business: greaterlovecrochet.com

3. My sons have lame baby books (if any at all) so I reason that they can come back to this blog to see what they were like as babies.

2. Typing makes me look AND feel productive.

1. The whole world should know how hard it is for me to potty train my children.

The Waiting Game (a fictional account by Josephine)

2010-02-07T21:10:00.001-08:00

Waiting is a difficult thing for me, but apparently not for many people that I follow in line at the grocery store. They must not know about that little gadget that sits right in front of them as they wait for the checker to scan their groceries. As soon as their first item is scanned, theoretically they could swipe their ATM card or even their credit card (which is faster since they don't have to enter a p.i.n.) and payment is done. Fin. Ende. Or they could pay cash and the only wait would be to receive their change, which often speeds down that silver slide and makes that cool *clanging* sound. Theoretically.

But since we don't live in a "theoretical" world I end up behind that lady who waits until the very last item is scanned to begin looking for her checkbook, which ends up being at the most far reaches of her purse. I get to watch her scrounge around her bottomless pit of a handbag in search of a pen, which she discovers has run out of ink. Upon borrowing a pen and filling out the check, complete with the month written out in its entirety, she must flip through her Rolodex-like check register to record this present transaction before passing the check to the clerk. As I shift my weight to my other leg (since the previous one had gone numb from supporting me in the same position for so long), the checker reminds her that she needs to show her identification when paying with a check. Back to the cavernous abyss of a purse she goes, rummaging for her wallet and attempting to quell the groans of shoppers in line behind her with comments like "I know it's in here somewhere!" (to which I think "It'd better be!"), and it finally emerges. The wallet is thick with old receipts and countless picture windows housing old Glamour Shots, and the theme to Leonard Nimoy's "In Search Of" comes to my mind as I stop counting how many times she pulls out the wrong card. Eventually she presents her driver's license to the checker and I move forward to take my spot (credit card out and in hand, mind you) in front of that payment device, only to have my plans of progression thwarted by the fact that she forgot to sign her check. Writing so slowly as if she's being graded on her penmanship, she finally completes her signature, and is on her way.

So after my first item is passed over the glass I swipe my card and watch my groceries take their place in their own little waiting area until the bagger puts them away. However, I see that the barbeque sauce scans a higher price than what the tag said on the shelves. I notify the checker, who proceeds to ask the bagger to go and double check the price. I am told that this would take a moment, and I say "OK." After all, we're talking about saving a few cents here. And the people behind me in line? Ah, they can wait.

Circles

2010-01-26T08:01:00.000-08:00

I watched Jedidiah coloring the other day. He grabbed a crayon and went round and round with it, creating a masterpiece of circles. It's such a simple shape - after all, it's one of the first things most children learn to draw - and a familiar one. Circular clocks count our time. We eat off of circular plates. Round wheels on our cars get us to where we need to go. Even round tables are places where friends gather for fellowship or discussion.

I once diagrammed my friendships (I know it sounds impersonal but bear with me) and it turned out to be a series of concentric circles (fellow Target shoppers know exactly what this looks like). One thing that hasn't changed is the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is at my center: "And He looked about in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, 'Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.'" (Mark 3:34-35) And, of course, Justin has secured his spot just outside of where Jesus has staked His claim.

Many people have been in my inner and outer circles. This is certainly not to say that by "many" I have voted myself Most Popular. Nor does it imply that my inner circle is an exclusive group noteworthy of its own page in the national "Who's Who". Rather, the Lord knows that I am a social person and as such has blessed me with meeting and knowing people who teach me more about Him. I have friends who are constant reminders that I need to seek God in every and all things. I have friends who are examples to me of God's faithfulness and righteousness. I have friends with whom the Lord has called me to share His Truth. These friends may move between the inner and outer circles of my diagram but, nonetheless, they are present in my life and up to this point no one has disappeared (at least none that I am aware of).

The people in these circles should not consider it an honor. Instead, I humbly request their patience with my impatience, their laughter in my sorrow, their beauty from my ashes and their joy with my joy. And by the grace of God I will cling tightly to my crayon and continue to draw round and round with it, creating my masterpiece of circles.

AP History

2010-01-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

Inspiration can come from anywhere. In this case, high school memories of having to write a 3-point essay in 35 minutes every Friday have reminded me how much I enjoy writing. Granted, at the time, it was weekly torture having to prepare a written argument for 10 possible topics in American History, but I realize what a valuable experience it was. I look back at that beer-gutted teacher inappropriately dressed in short shorts and appreciate how strict he was in teaching his students to write properly and effectively. I also appreciate that he sat behind a large podium most of the time.

And just as inspiration comes, it goes. Although having four sons can provide a wealth of material about which to blog, my free time to actually write is inversely proportional to the time it takes to meet their needs, however interesting or entertaining they may be. And while I have the intention of creating articulate streams of thought and works of prose, I expect to be interrupted and my works cut short.

So for now I will refrain from predicting the frequency of my posts, but at least I know that the intent exists. And I also know that I can still crank out an essay debating whether the American Revolution was, in fact, a "revolution" - just give me 35 minutes.

Mr. Clean

2009-08-08T17:37:00.001-07:00

Ah, finally! After Justin telling me that Jonah and James needed more chores, I decided to teach them how to do their own laundry. Up to this point, they knew how to sort, fold and put away (a.k.a. smash into their dresser). Today they learned how to sort their dirty clothes, take them to the laundry room, put in the detergent and turn on the washing machine. Then they learned how to transfer the clothes to the dryer and turn the dryer on. Jonah's excitement over this new responsibility led him in an attempt to wash just two socks by themselves, but that load (set on "super large capacity") was thwarted when I explained to him that we only wash full loads because we have to pay for the water. His response? "Awwwwww!!!!"

After I supervised their first load of laundry Jonah continued on his own and he washed and dried three more loads. James "opted out" after the first load. Now that they have to wash their own clothes, I have a feeling that Jonah will be changing his outfits every hour while James will be wearing the same thing for weeks to come.

Me & Mr. Dean

2009-08-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hope you "stumble" across this, Mr. Dean. If you need yet ANOTHER grey shirt/black shorts/dress shoes with no socks outfit, you know whom to call.

Vacation Bible School

2009-07-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

VBS is this week and the theme is superheroes from the Bible. Josephine and I are serving and all the boys are having a blast. Jack and Jed get lots of attention in the nursery. Jonah and James get crafts, worship and study time. Josephine is my helper - Just like old times. All of us return home after lunch happy but very tired.

Kitchen - Almost Done

2009-07-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

Remodeling - Before Renovations

2009-06-24T20:54:00.001-07:00

Updates since the last blog...

2009-06-24T20:05:00.000-07:00

OK, so it's been a while. Here's what has happened since the last blog entry:

Justin - finished the school year and found out that after 9 years of teaching @ Manzanita Elementary School he's being moved to another school in the same district. Thing is, it's possible that a teacher released from that school could be placed @ Manzanita if enrollment increases. Lame. Justin, however, has moved on to his summer project of renovating 2 of the 3 bathrooms and the kitchen in our house with the help of a contractor friend. Good thing Justin wasn't already tired from the past school year or the renovations would be REALLY exhausting.

Josephine - turned 37 in April and doesn't feel much different.

Jonah - promoted from 2nd to 3rd grade. He and his baseball team the Buccaneers reached the championship finals only to lose to an undefeated team. Jonah has lost two front teeth on the bottom and two front teeth on the top and is looking like a big boy now. However, he has yet to master riding a two wheeler - call that his "summer project".

James - turned 5 in June and celebrated with a Star Wars party, complete with pool-noodle light sabers. He is glad the school year is over, but he said his fave subject was math. He screamed like a banshee when he got his tuberculosis test at his 5-year physical and was thankful he didn't have to get any "real shots". Mommy and the entire clinic were glad, too.

Jedidiah - started walking, then running in April. Talks like there's no tomorrow and one of his favorite things is to count to 10 and say "Go!" when his daddy says "Ready? Set?" Jed has also developed a fondness for pool-noodle light sabers, if only to use them to activate the ice maker and water dispenser on the fridge.

Jack - coming along slowly, though more talkative than before. He's almost walking but is still perfectly happy crawling. He loves to play with cars and trucks (reminiscent of baby Jonah), but his fave thing of all is a few minutes of rocking chair time before bed.

Rolfe - still big, still playful. He's now taking two medications for thyroid and immune system issues. He's still quite handsome for an over-the-hill 9 year old German Shepherd.

Only 4 days into summer and this season has already shown to be quite a busy one. The twins will be receiving speech therapy and Jed will start physical therapy in July as their occupational therapy, infant playtime and Jack's physical therapy continue. Jonah and James start swim lessons next week and will hopefully be pool-safe by the end of summer. Rolfe looks forward to his walks with alpha male and spends the rest of the day napping. Justin and Josephine are still surviving. By the Lord's grace they are finding joy in their life with 4 (5) rambunctious, fun, loving and unique sons.

Happy Birthday, Jedidiah and Jack!

2009-03-30T22:19:00.000-07:00

Two years ago I was in a hospital room, freshly wounded yet heavily medicated following the most invasive and most miraculous procedure of my life. You guessed it - Jedidiah and Jack were born. Justin and I have experienced so many emotional extremes since their birth, from complete exhaustion to complete joy. Time has not flown in this house of four sons - we have felt every hour of every moment. But that is a blessing. The dark circles under our eyes is proof of our presence for all the important and not-so-important milestones, like when Jack barked at Rolfe for the first time or when Jed took his first steps.

The twins celebrated their birthday today in an age-appropriate manner. They found a box of Honey Nut Cheerios and opened it up - I discovered both of them sitting like little islands in the midst of a Cheerio ocean in the kitchen. With mouths full of cereal, they thought it was hilarious. Then they whined all through dinner at Pick Up Stix despite the new Blue's Clues DVD playing on the portable DVD player. Then they completed the day tearing apart and smashing their birthday cupcakes.

So 731 days ago I was recovering and unknowingly getting my last chance at rest before our official start as a family of 6. Every now and then, when I see or feel my C-section scar, I remember that feeling of fear for the lives of the twins. But today I also chalk it up as evidence of a life more blessed than it was 732 days ago.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Jedidiah and Jack! We love you!

Go Buccaneers!

2009-03-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

Jonah had his first T-ball game today - well, it was really a scrimmage, but considering he got all dressed up in his uniform with his new cleats, it might as well have been a "real" game. He'd been looking forward to this day since the first day of practice. He got a piece of the ball his first time at bat, got a hit the second time, and struck out the third time. Thank God he was having fun and managed to pay attention to the game and to what his coach was saying (how many of you remember the story of him chasing his shadow during his soccer game when he was 4?). I saw pleasure in his Daddy's eyes when Jonah exhibited a fair amount of athleticism, and Mommy was pleased at how cute he looked. As we embark on another extracurricular adventure, I pray that the excitement we all felt today will last as long as Jonah's desire to play - and I pray that he can reuse his uniform next season 'cause it wasn't cheap!

Happy Birthday, Justin!

2009-03-16T21:06:00.000-07:00

Today is Justin's birthday. We celebrated a little early last night when I tried to surprise him by having my family over for dinner. Even though the surprise didn't work out, we still had a great time celebrating another year with plenty of lemon cake to go around. Then Justin continued his "celebration" into the wee hours of the morning - he still had to complete the report cards for his students to be handed out today. So he started his actual birthday on 3 hours of sleep, but hopefully enjoyed a nice end to it after watching "The Empire Strikes Back" with all of us together.

I came across a verse today that I assigned to James for his writing practice, but I believe it's an accurate description of Justin, especially for today:

"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day". Proverbs 4:18

In the words of the Hallmark card I gave him, he is a strong, supportive source of love and encouragement to me and our sons. The path he takes is difficult but devoted to God, and he wears his faith on his sleeve for all to see. Though he and I know that life could be easier, his faithfulness becomes stronger every day and helps to brighten my own way, moment by moment, "unto the perfect day". I am blessed to be with him another year, and having Justin as my husband makes me feel like the perfect day has already arrived.

Happy Birthday, Justin!

Apple Apple

2009-03-11T21:55:00.001-07:00

Just the other day I was watching some Asian channel. There were two Japanese chefs cooking something that had to do with apples and one said to the other in a heavy Japanese accent: "Apple. Just like the first word we learned in English school!" Well, today began Jedidiah's "English school" because he said apple. Aaaaa-pple! I guess it sounds more like "ah-poh", but it counts! A smidgen of progress in his language skills, but progress nonetheless. Now I can't wait to hear him utter "pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis".

Spelling Test

2009-03-09T20:43:00.000-07:00

Regardless of my mood, school has to get done. No question. But that doesn't mean that my mood doesn't affect the school day, because it does. It really does. Take for example Jonah's spelling test last week. I tell him the word, use it in a sentence so he understands the meaning, then I repeat the word and he writes it down. Here are the words and my sentences for the last test:

1. loudest - Mommy is the loudest when she is yelling.
2. eaten - I wish you had eaten your breakfast in less than one hour.
3. kindly - Kindly write down this word fast so we can get to the next word already.
4. lunches - Mommy makes everyone's lunches and doesn't hear "Thank You" from anybody.
5. faster - Please finish your work faster and don't dilly-dally.
6. helper - It would be nice if I had a helper to help me take care of all you kids.
7. classes - Sometimes Mommy thinks it would be better if you took classes at a public school.
8. dishes - No matter how often I wash, there is always a sink full of dishes.
9. sleepy - Mommy does so much work around here it's no wonder she's sleepy at 8:00.
10. biggest - I have the biggest headache right now.
11. frozen - Sometimes it seems like your brain is frozen because it takes you so long to do your work.
12. slowly - Please do not write slowly but quickly. And get it right.
13. every - Every time I ask you to do something I have to ask you again and that makes me angry.
14. houses - Ours is one of the messiest houses on our street.
15. very - Mommy is very, very. very tired.
16. frosty - Mommy can be frosty but it also means when there's ice on the cars or on the grass.
17. taken - I should have taken two Tylenol this morning.
18. washes - Who washes clothes in this house? You don't. I do.
19. softly - You have a problem walking softly down the hallway when the babies are asleep.
20. winner - The winner is the one who doesn't have four kids.

Jonah got 100%.

Walkie Talkie

2009-02-23T21:37:00.000-08:00

Jed took his first steps today. God is so good.

Back To The Future

2009-02-23T18:06:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love 80's music. It was a major decade for me - I turned 8 in 1980 and 18 in 1990, so it should be no surprise that my kids have been exposed to a healthy amount of 80's stuff. Jonah and James have made me proud by spontaneously humming the chorus to "Save A Prayer" and, as you may have read earlier, they enjoy wearing bandannas a la Axel.

The twins don't disappoint, either. Jedidiah always chooses a new toy to take to bed for naptime. Today he chose an unsolved Rubik's Cube. I said to myself "If that thing is solved when I come get him after naptime..." Well, it wasn't, which means the Cube will stay unsolved until one of my brothers comes over.

Which reminds me that I need to make an appointment for the twins to get their first haircuts. Their fine hair has grown into mullets in the last 23 months and I've never liked that haircut. Rather than pump my bangs to complete the family look, I'll make the appointment. Hey, I don't love the 80's THAT much.

Sweet Child Of Mine

2009-01-31T21:03:00.001-08:00

James has recently added a new piece to his wardrobe: the bandanna. He wears it when we play rock songs on the iPod, during meals and when he is just chillin'. Well, we just checked on him and he has fallen asleep with the headband on.

James' similarities to Axel don't stop there. He's also pale, moody and on occasion self-absorbed. But if James ends up making millions and uses some of that money to take care of his parents then long live that bandanna.

Nightmares (x5)

2009-01-31T20:51:00.000-08:00

Poor Josephine had to deal with 5 males waking up at different times last night due to nightmares. Jonah and James have night terrors when they don't nap. Jack and Jedidiah are sick and felt obligated to join in. Daddy, the leader of the pack, also woke up shouting something like "WHAT!" in his wife's direction.

When asked about her night last night she replied, "LOVED IT."

Jonah Plus One Minus One

2009-01-04T23:01:00.000-08:00

For Jonah, this holiday season was one celebration after another. On December 23, we visited his Nana and Papa, so he and his brothers received a gift bag full of the usual toys, books, art supplies, and clothing. On Christmas Day, we spent a nice quiet day at home in our pajamas enjoying the presents we had given to one another. On December 30, we celebrated Christmas with the Lopez family, and experienced a delightful present frenzy, hosted by my brother and sister-in-law. At our family's New Year's Eve party, we had a white elephant gift exchange (from which I walked away with a new CD player). Jonah's birthday is January 2, and on the actual day we had a party, so - you guessed it- more presents. He requested that it be a Guitar Hero party, so he and his titas and uncles and cousins and friends strummed (or toggled?) away to the likes of "Beat It" and "Eye of the Tiger". So now we have a 7 year old son, but the excitement surrounding him doesn't end there...

To celebrate gaining another year, Jonah lost his first baby tooth today. What a symbol of leaving behind his toddler days. An adult tooth had already erupted behind one of the bottom front teeth (may our sons' dentist Dr. Snaer forgive me for not knowing the tooth's official name), so the baby one in front of it has been quite wiggly for the past month. Wouldn't you know it - Justin and I weren't in the dining room with Jonah when he screamed "Mommy! Daddy!". With thoughts of some kind of accident and pictures of a bloody mess in my head, we rounded the corner to find Jonah with a toothless grin and an incisor (THAT'S the word!) in his hand. He was unable to contain his excitement as much as I was unable to contain my relief!

So after one 7 year old's birthday celebration and a baby tooth in his memory book, we're already off to a great start for 2009!

Christmas Choir 2008 - Jonah the Donkey

2008-12-22T22:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Jonah performed in "The Innkeeper's Tale" at church. It was the 2008 Christmas performance at Calvary Chapel Pasadena. Jonah was dressed in a cute donkey outfit as one of the animals from the stable.

All the kids were adorable and Frank narrated a cute tale from the innkeeper's perspective. It was a great performance followed by an important message about Christ. Hopefully someone decided to accept God's free gift of salvation. I can't think of a better Christmas gift.

Great job Jonah! We just need to work on that stubborn side.

HE HAW!

That's Not Chocolate!

2008-12-10T20:41:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have been on the edge of your seats waiting for yet another situation involving my sons and their history of inappropriately pooping, the wait is over. Let me start by going backwards. Here are the lessons I learned from tonight:
1) NEVER assume it's chocolate.
2) NEVER pick it up with your bare hands.
3) NEVER assume who the source is.
4) NEVER take a 4 year old at his word.

Justin took Jonah to Tae Kwon Do tonight, and when one or more children are absent at dinnertime it's usually easier. USUALLY. During dinner, I saw on the floor what looked like a melted chocolate chip. It wasn't. Needless to say, I had to wash-no, scrub my hands. I smelled the twins up, down, and all around, checked up their pant legs and found no tracks or pieces or anything. I figured Justin had brought it in on one of his shoes. I asked James if he needed to poop, and he said No. He proceeded to go into the family room and I heard him playing with some of the baby toys. I continued to give the twins their milk when, after about 5 minutes, I noticed James with his hands down the back of his pants. I shuddered with dread as I called him over. I opened his pants, and, SURPRISE, underwear with some "not chocolate" in it. I had to put down the twins sippy cups, which sent them into a frenzy of screaming. I put James on the toilet and demanded that he push out what had only started to rear its ugly head. I went back to finish feeding Jack and Jed, and returned to wipe James. With a raised voice I reminded James that playing is not more important than pooping. I flushed the toilet. It clogged. I gagged. I gagged again, and ran out of the bathroom. I returned, pulled off James's clothes and streaked undies and put him in the shower to soak. Long. I set up a DVD for the twins to watch. Then I remembered that I had smelled poop in his room a few weeks ago... I screamed in anger and threw off the stuffed toys from his bed, smelling them one by one. I ripped off his sheets and pillow cases and threw them with his clothes into the wash. Wash - hot, rinse - hot. I wiped off all the baby toys in the family room, wiped off the chair James was sitting on, wiped the table, wiped the floor, wiped the doorknobs and the refrigerator door, and anything else James probably touched while he was under the radar. I returned to James the raisin in the shower and gave him a deep scrubbing, especially in the you-know-what area, and another lecture about how poop does not belong in underwear. As he put on his pajamas after his bath I made his bed and prohibited the tens of stuffed toys he usually sleeps with from joining him tonight. He got punished for lying to me about not having to poop, he got in bed, and he went to sleep alone.

That was about two hours ago and I'm still steaming, but cooling down. Why is it that I am the one learning lessons from all this? Shouldn't 4 be the max when it comes to the number of times a potty-trained boy chooses to tote around his excrement instead of going to the bathroom? And, dang it, why do I keep smelling my hands?

Hark the Herald Shepherds Sing...

2008-12-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the first rehearsal for the Christmas Children's Choir at church. Jonah is performing for the second year in a row. When given the choice between an angel, animal or shepherd, Jonah chose the shepherd.

The theme for this year's performance is "The Innkeeper's Tale". It is the story of the innkeeper who, despite previous accounts, tried his best to find accommodations for Joseph and Mary.

Plays are always fun to watch due to unpredictable nature of live acting. Add a cast of young, untrained child actors and viola! It will be a fun night.

The curtain rises on Sunday, December 21st! Sing your heart out shepherd boy.

Walker, Texas Ranger

2008-12-03T22:51:00.000-08:00

OK, this post has nothing to do with Chuck Norris, but "Walker" is the key word. Nana and Papa Riggs were kind enough to give Jack and Jed their Christmas presents early. Yesterday their Uncle TJ delivered two VTech walkers. Even though they have therapy 3-4x per week, hopefully this will help their physical development even more. The lights and sounds are pretty cool and so far they're mildly interested in it. Before we know it they'll probably be racing down the hallway with them. I hope these walkers are still in good condition for me when I'm at the end of my years and in need of a fun one.

Jack is Wonderfully Made.

2008-11-24T13:13:00.001-08:00

For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.
Psalm 139:13-14

Before the foundations of the world were created, God knew that Jack Riggs would be born. He also knew that he would have cerebral palsy. Today, Josephine and I met with the doctor to review Jack's MRI from last week. She confirmed that scar tissue was present on both sides of the brain but more on the left side. This would explain the weakness of his right side. So, it is clear that he has mild to moderate cerebral palsy. The extent is not known. As he grows and matures, we will see how well he speaks. This will determine how severe the palsy is.

A few months ago I studied the story of a paralyzed man that Jesus forgave and healed (Luke 5:18). During my preparation, I examined the word for paralyzed. That word means palsy in the original language. At that moment the Lord gave me a peace about Jack as if to say -- If he has cerebral palsy it is ok.

So, today is just a confirmation of what we have suspected for a few months. The Lord confirmed the diagnosis during this week of Thanksgiving for a reason. So our prayer is for a constant attitude of thanksgiving. We give thanks that God has deemed us worthy to care for four wonderful boys including a child with cerebral palsy. But we also thank Him for His mercy towards Jack. At the end of Josephine's pregnancy the doctor was concerned that Jack might be dying. By God's mercy he lived and he is perfect because God knit him together in Josephine's womb.

So as Jack continues to grow and mature, we know that God will use him to help us grow and mature too. That is something we are very thankful for.

Jonah vs Ezra - Sparring

2008-11-19T21:57:00.000-08:00

Turn your head 90 degrees and watch as Jonah and Ezra put their friendship to the test. What is stronger: The bonds of friendship or a roundhouse kick to the face? Watch and find out.

Super Stars - Twins Feed Themselves

2008-11-18T22:37:00.000-08:00

Today Josephine went shopping while I took care of the boys (I call it her "vacation"). At dinnertime the twins usually sit at the table but tonight I decided to use their old trays. The trays attach to the booster seats. I had a hunch that having a tray might prevent the normal dinner time game - Sweep everything off the table onto the floor. So, I gave them the trays and placed a few peas on top. Soon the peas were flying to the ground. I tried the Gerber stars (aka flavored air). In an instant both boys were doing something they haven't done in 19 months - Grabbing food and placing it in their mouths. I sprinted over, got the video camera and started filming. Amazingly, they kept feeding themselves the stars.

When mommy got home I showed her the film and she was very proud. Another wonderful milestone reached. Now we can take the twins for Moroccan food.

M.I.A.

2008-10-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

Don't be alarmed - yes, it's a real live blog update from the Riggs Family. Yes, we've neglected blogging for quite some time and have probably lost a few fans, but you must understand how busy it's been! Here's a quick update on what's been happening the past few months:

Jack and Jedidiah have started occupational therapy once a week, infant stimulation (one-on-one play) twice a week, and Jack has physical therapy once a week. We started our homeschooling the last week of August - Jonah in 2nd grade and James in pre-K/K. From when we awake to when we sleep, we must juggle the needs of each child and prioritize who needs what and when. Oh, and we have to eat and nap (except for mommy) throughout the day, too. On Thursdays we meet with our homeschooling group and have "school," where the kids are put into classes according their grades and the moms teach various subjects - I teach science to the 3rd-8th graders. Wednesday is the only day of the week when we have nothing other than school scheduled - hence my hurried attempt to catch up on this blog.

My temper is short and my desire is not to be a complainer (1Tim 6:6), but right how I have two babies whining for my attention, a 6 year old begging for breakfast and a 4 year old trying to climb into my lap. I pray that the Lord continues to reveal to me all the blessings around me, and that what I seek is His glory and not just another cup of coffee.

Jonah into the "Arts"

2008-08-08T19:13:00.001-07:00

Jonah is a child with many gifts. He loves to draw, sing and plays a mean game of Dodgeball on the Wii. A couple years ago he tried to play soccer but was more interested in his shadow than the actual goal of scoring on the opponent. Over time Josephine and I have tried to steer him in certain directions to build on his strengths. This summer he attended a couple art classes at Thematic Attic and loved them (especially the snacks). Yet he struggles to grasp the intricacies of swimming (like not drowning) after several lessons. He wants to play the piano and loves riding his bike. So as we continue our search for activities to strengthen his mind and body, we attended a Tae Kwon Do lesson at a local studio. Jonah was interested but not exactly chomping at the bit to sign up.

Well, the Lord has shown us that there are certain experiences Jonah needs. He needs to learn self-control and perseverence (Don't we all!). So Mom and Jonah are returning from his first lesson and he enjoyed it. Yay! or should I say HIYAHH!

Strangers Have The Best Candy

2008-06-26T17:30:00.000-07:00

What started as a pre-planned (as in babies fed/diaper bag fully stocked/boys' bladders empty/checkbook ready) trip to Costco turned out to be a lesson in wisdom. Just as all 6 of us were rounding the last section, ready to tackle the snack aisle before heading for the checkout, we were stopped by a nice old man's declaration: "I'm a twin, too!" He came up to me and stated "I believe there's a special place in heaven for mothers of twins." I liked him already. As Justin approached, he yelled "There's the FOT (father of twins)!" and gave him a big hug. He offered Jonah and James some gum, adding the disclaimer "I assure you this gum is fresh from the grocery store. I don't deal drugs." His name is Don, he told us his twin brother's name is Ron (which affirmed my decision to alliterate all our kids' names rather than rhyme them), and he was so full of energy. In a matter of 1 minute he gave us advice on keeping memories of the twins as they grow, emphasized the importance of piano (he plays at the local senior center, where he could very possibly reside himself), and gave Justin more hugs than I have in the past 10 years. After a short "Goodbye" and "Have a nice day", he danced away (at least I think we said goodbye - he was still talking as he left). Really, a breath of fresh air. Maybe someday Jack or Jed will be that old man twin that you run into at Costco, dancing in the aisles, talking about the sweet things that can be found in a piece of gum and in life.

Resident Evil

2008-06-19T18:33:00.001-07:00

Merriam-Webster defines "evil" as morally reprehensible, sinful, or wicked. I define "evil" as Trader Joe's All Natural Dark Chocolate-Covered Joe-Joe's with Vanilla Bean Cream. And when they're frozen (thanks for the extra evilness, Tracy), they are even more devilishly delectable. So, since misery (of the marvelous kind) loves company, go out to your local Trader Joe's and sample one - if you can stop at just one. If evil was round, these Joe-Joe's would be Satan himself.

Father's Love

2008-06-18T08:34:00.001-07:00

So I 'm a little late in wishing all you dads out there a Happy Father's Day! We celebrated with my brother and his family and my dad with a very informal barbeque, watching all our kids play in the pool. Justin had last Saturday "off" to do what he wanted to do , which was sleep until 10am and watch movies on his laptop - in peace. Later that day he took Jonah and James to see Kung Fu Panda. For one of his presents, I made him a slideshow, and due to technical difficulties, I am unable to post it, but here's the song I used: "Father's Love" by Bob Carlisle.

So thank you, Justin, for being a faithful and loving father to our Fantastic Four.

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" 1John 3:1

$150 Ahead

2008-06-12T20:16:00.001-07:00

Yay, yay, yay! We just started saving about $150/month in a matter of minutes. Jed and Jack just finished their LAST can of formula! Many of you know the story - I nursed both of them as soon as they were born but 1)this Bessie just didn't produce enough milk for the calves and 2) since the babies were preemies the doctor instructed us to put them on high calorie formula to supplement the breast milk. Well, they had reflux and despite emptying out their stomachs on our favorite t-shirts time and time again, they still managed to grow. I think I was about to throw myself off Suicide Bridge in Pasadena, up to my ears in baby vomit, when the GI specialist finally recommended this formula, and they finally stopped all the throw up (HELLO, could Dr. Tran have mentioned this MONTHS before every piece of clothing I owned had inadvertently been acid-washed??!!). So, the twins had been on this formula and, mind you, feeding two babies ain't cheap, even when you get this stuff at Costco! Anyway, they're on whole milk now. Since we prefer organic and there's still two of them to feed, I hear my bubble bursting as I write - that $150 in formula just might turn into $ for organic milk, with any change to spare going toward gas. Well, so much for new clothes - let's just hope that 80's acid- wash look comes back real soon.

Happy Birthday, James!

2008-06-02T14:27:00.001-07:00

Another milestone in our family - James turned 4 years old yesterday! His birthday party last Saturday was a long time coming. We didn't celebrate his birthday last year because the twins had just been born and life was SO crazy (not that it isn't now) since we were adjusting so many new things. No, we didn't actually forget the day last year, but he didn't get a chance to celebrate it. So this year his request for a "Speed Racer" party was fulfilled, complete with a custom car craft and race car races. Here he is holding his very own Mach 5. He also got a tower of racer-decorated cupcakes, way too many Speed Racer Hot Wheels, and a little bit of a tan from playing outside. I think he's forgiven us for not celebrating last year, but, knowing this little guy, he'll bring it up when we least expect it as leverage for something he REALLY wants. Happy Birthday, Minis!

Livin' Inside Out

2008-06-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

On May 16th and 17th, Sonrise ISP (our homeschooling group) presented the musical "Livin' Inside Out". They do musicals every year, and it's a great experience for all the kids that participate. This was Jonah's second year in the choir - see him singing his heart out? But what this picture DOESN'T show is what he was doing most of the time he was up there. I suppose all that singing was boring him - he kept looking down picking his nails! And he was in the front row! HELLO! I dont' know - maybe he felt that two years of this was two years too many, or his concern for good hygiene took over. But considering he could have been picking some other part of his body, I guess it could have been worse. I just hope next year he doesn't pull out a crossword puzzle to work on during the performance.

Riddle

2008-05-28T12:27:00.000-07:00

I told a few of you about this, but figured it was time to share it with everyone.

Question: How is it possible to be in the bathroom standing in front of the toilet and still get your pee all in the hallway?

Answer: Ask James.

Victory

2008-05-13T16:04:00.001-07:00

I did it! I did it! I survived the day (so far), venturing out and accomplishing a few firsts with the boys...

I took them all to our homeschool group's park day. Now, I've done that before, but for the first time I let Jed and Jack sit in the stroller out of their car seats. I think they enjoyed the freedom to squirm around more, stretch their legs, and feel the breeze and fresh air. Thanks to other moms Norma and Valerie for holding them when they finally wanted "out" for a bit.

Then, we went to the grocery store. Yes, the GROCERY STORE. BY MYSELF. Amazing what boneless skinless chicken breast at $1.99/lb will make you do. So, after an afternoon at the park, we went to Albertson's for the last day of the sale, and to pick up a few other things. I had both babies in their car seats this time, Jack in the main part of the cart and Jed in the front, with Jonah and James orbiting around it. I loaded the bottom rack of the cart with as much as it could hold and we paid and left. Other than the few whines from Jed, who was either dissatisfied every time the cart stopped moving or unhappy that he was back in his car seat, the trip was very manageable.

So by the time we got back home I had thanked God profusely for enabling me to handle the park and the store with the boys. Of course, coming home was made more bearable after a quick drive through Starbuck's for a venti mint mocha frappuccino - a treat just for me and my thighs.

Better than Beautiful

2008-04-29T20:44:00.000-07:00

Whether you've been married for 1 day or 1,000,000 days, there are words that a wife always loves to hear: "I love you", "You look more beautiful than the day we met", "Are you losing weight?" (you know he REALLY loves you), and "I'm wrong, you're right", to name a few. Well, the other day I heard something that ranks at the top of such a list: "This is one of the best cookies I've ever had!" Why such a big deal to me? Well, I made chewy brownie cookies from a Crisco recipe, and Justin is big on neither chocolate nor cookies. So, that means that after 12 years of marriage, there are things that we do for each other that are still fresh, new, and unpredictable. So sparkle up your relationships, ladies, with a batch of chewy brownie cookies. If you chow a dozen of them in one sitting and he still asks you if you've lost weight, you know it's LOVE.

Happy Anniversary!

2008-04-29T07:22:00.000-07:00

On April 27, 2008, we celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary (yes, lots of celebrations lately). The gift for 12 years of marriage is linen, but Justin went the more traditional route - yogurt and roses. We started the morning at church where we dedicated Jedidiah and Jack (more about that later), then we had a nice lunch with my dad and sister-in-law. After that, we realized we had to pick some things up at Costco. So, in addition to the few necessities, Justin came out with my presents: one yogurt from the food court and two dozen red roses! I love it! So I enjoyed the drive home eating my yogurt (with Jonah and James incessantly asking when they were going to get their share) and my lovely roses are now on display in the dining room. I wouldn't have thought 12 years ago that's how we would celebrate our 12th anniversary, but I wouldn't have it any other way (well, maybe without the kids whining in the back seat, but that's everyday anyway)!

HB2Me!

2008-04-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

So I turned 36 a few weeks ago, and as part of my present Justin gave me the ENTIRE day off. He contacted my friends and planned a day for all of us to go to Disneyland. Well, you know women - always changing their minds. So upon meeting in the early morning, dressed for a day with Mickey Mouse and coated in a thin film of sunscreen, we decided instead to hang out in Orange County for a day of shopping and eating. And shopping. And eating. Did I mention shopping? And eating? From The Corner Bakery for breakfast, to Claim Jumper for lunch, to Tokyo Lobby for dinner, to Cherry on Top for dessert, I had a restful and fun day. Really, that was what I wanted. I appreciated all the work Justin put into planning a "day away" for me, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was gone from morning to night, and I came home happy and one year older. At this rate, I can't wait to turn 37!

Happy First Birthday!

2008-04-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

Wow! Our baby boys are one year old! While we really have felt every day of the last year, it has gone by fairly quickly (minute by minute, but quick minutes). They are healthy, happy, and growing into fun little boys! Jed is our "little James" - he is very talkative and he shows his emotions from one extreme to the other, from very fussy to very happy! Jack is "little Jonah" - he has an even temper, is playful, and calm for the most part. What a responsibility we have as parents to raise our sons to become faithful men of integrity (Romans 10:17) . What a joy it is to have a "full quiver" (Psalm 127:4-5). What a task it is to clean up after them all! :-) We know that by God's grace and mercy, we're living a blessed life!

Snake Bus

2008-03-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

So I started teaching James how to read. I know he's only 3 1/2, but, believe me, it's totally no pressure. He already knows all his letters and sounds, so, reading comes next, right? We're using reading rods, which are little interlocking blocks that each have a letter on it. From what I understand, using tactile skills enhances visual learning. Anyhow, this is how today's lesson went:

Me: James, put these letters together: b, u, and s. What sound does "b" make?
James: Buh.
Me: What sound does "u" make?
James: Uh.
Me: What sound does "s" make?
James: Sss.
Me: OK, now, let's put those blocks and sounds together. What does it say?
James: Buh-uh-sss.
Me: Again. Faster.
James: Buh-uh-sss.
Me: You're doing it! Again!
James: Buh-uh-sss!
Me: Yay! What does it say?
James: Snake!

I guess that saying "You get what you pay for" currently applies to James's education.

3:10 to Arcadia

2008-03-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

Sunday was my birthday and Josephine surprised me with a rare gift - A whole day off. I spent the morning doing our taxes and trimming some grass. Then I thought, "What am I doing?" After cleaning up I got in my car and tried to figure out what to do. There were too many options. I wandered to Costco then settled on renting movies and heading to Arcadia. Josephine had arranged for me to get an uninterrupted night of sleep at Hotel Golden West (the guest house at my brother-in-law's).

So, I grabbed a burger at Tops and two movies and settled in to "cocoon". It was very quiet. I ate my whole lunch without interruption while watching the movie. After 3:10 to Yuma I pondered my next step - another movie? take a nap? listen to my thoughts?

Well, the strangest thing happened. I couldn't relax. It was too quiet and I missed Josephine and the boys. After the movie I spent 30 minutes going back and forth. Should I stay or should I go? It was weird. Here I had what I thought I wanted - peace and quiet. In the end, the silence was deafening.

I went inside and chatted with Laurence, Cina, Lolo, AJ and Lea. I explained why I was leaving and about 9 p.m. I headed home. The boys were asleep when I arrived and I ended up watching the other video - Battlestar Galactica in bed with Josephine at my side - as it should be.

Then around 11 pm I put my head down on the pillow to sleep. Right then Jedidiah woke up and cried for about an hour. Then Jack woke up and cried as well. But eventually they both went back to sleep. I slept on the couch while Jed watched Baby Einstein and eventually slept. Josephine collapsed in bed after finally getting Jack back to sleep.

Normally, it would bother me but this time I was glad to be home. Tired but glad.

Funny thing is on Saturday afternoon, I left around 3 p.m. and headed back home around 9 p.m. Left at 3 and gone for 6 hours. 36.

Happy 36th Birthday to me!

Who let these dogs out?

2008-03-05T14:48:00.000-08:00

Nana sent all the boys a card for Valentine's Day, but it's not just any card - it's one of those that plays a song when you open it. The last time she sent one of these, it was for Thanksgiving and the song was "Another One Bites the Dust" - Jonah and James still love opening and closing that card to no end. So, this video is what happens "when the dogs are let out". Check out James the second time they play the card, after Justin tells them "Again!"

I think James' antics are his conscious way of making up for the first year of his life, which was filled with colic, sleepless nights, and lots of neediness. That's when we thought FOR SURE we'd stop at two. ;-) Now he's this character who will do anything for a laugh. And he's showing off all the dancing skillz he got from his mom.

So Tired

2008-03-05T11:57:00.001-08:00

So within the past few weeks, our family has gotten "what's going around". All four boys had ear infections at the same time (do the math: 2x4=8 ears infected), had to take medicine at the same time, and were generally irritable at the same time. Justin and I had colds at the same time, so our house was pretty much sick bay. After 10 long days of giving everyone antibiotics 3 times a day (do the math: 4x3x10=120 doses of medicine), we got better - until this week. Jack got a cold, and, thankfully, it was only a cold and so far no one else has gotten it. Funny thing is, this picture is of Jed, but it might as well be any of us. Living in a house of 6 people sure is tiring. I wish I had my own adult-sized exersaucer that I could take a nap in. I wish I could take a nap - anywhere, for that matter.

Gum Boy

2008-02-22T15:08:00.000-08:00

Be sure to watch the video before reading the following comments:

No, this is NOT why he has two cavities.
And according to the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Oz, and snopes.com, it won't be in his stomach for 7 years.

Two Cavities

2008-02-18T19:38:00.000-08:00

Josephine took James and Jonah to the dentist today. James has two cavities. Coincidentally they are located right where he likes to hide his chewable vitamins. Maybe we shouldn't let him use vitamins like chewing tobacco anymore.

"James, it has been over a hour. Have you finished eating that vitamin yet?" "No."

No more vitamins for you!

Sour and Sweet

2008-02-16T21:37:00.000-08:00

Last night was sweet. Everyone slept through the night. EVERYONE! We really needed that. So today we had a lazy morning, went to Wendy's and then to Wingate Park. This is the same park where Jonah would scream at the train and chase his shadow. (He did it again just for old-time's sake). After eating lunch in the car, we took all the boys to the play equipment. The boys had a great time with two girls also 6 and 3. Josephine struck up a conversation with their mom and it turns out her husband used to work for Aventis when Josephine did. Small world!

The weather was great (This is why we live in California!) and the boys got some needed exercise.

Josephine just put down Jedidiah (aka Mr. Sour) and as I type this I can smell the sourdough starter I just prepared. I think it's so cool that you can leave food out for two weeks and then use it to make great-tasting bread. Yum!

Another Late Night Party

2008-02-15T19:11:00.000-08:00

Jedidiah was overtired last night. We started getting him ready to sleep at 8:30 and finally after hours of rocking and mini-naps, I gave up at 2:00 a.m. I didn't have the energy to walk him around anymore. So I put Baby Einstein on. He calmed down and I laid down on the couch. The video repeated until 5:00 a.m. when Josephine took over. Jed slept part of that time but not much.

Lesson: When daddy watches the twins during the day make sure they nap throughout the day or expect a long night.

Happy Valentine's Day Dr. Tukaj

2008-02-14T21:42:00.001-08:00

As if spending Lincoln's birthday at the doctor's wasn't enough, James decided to send us back for Valentine's Day. Yesterday, Josephine met me at the door with the look that says "Help!" It was clear at that point that she was too sick to care for the boys. After finishing dinner she retired to bed. I took the day off today which allowed her to get some needed rest.

This morning James told us his ear hurt and his appetite was poor. Fortunately, we got an appt for 4 and James, Jonah and I headed back to Glendora where Dr. Tukaj confirmed that James had two ear infections and lots of phlegm in his lungs. So, now we have eight ear infections and one sick mom - Happy Valentine's Day!

P.S. It's 11:29 p.m. and Jedidiah shows no signs of going to sleep anytime soon.

Cheaper by the Half Dozen

2008-02-14T08:42:00.000-08:00

On Monday we did what most Americans do to celebrate Lincoln's birthday - We took our four boys to visit a Polish pediatrician in Glendora. It turns out they had six ear infections. Jonah, Jedidiah and Jonah were infected in both ears. Now it makes sense Jed could not sleep - two bad ear infections, high fever, wheezing, dehydration, and fatigue - I would be grumpy too.

So off we went to CVS where they filled our trunk with a variety of pharmacological potions.

Josephine has been playing nurse ever since.

Happy Birthday Abe!

Grammy's After Party

2008-02-11T12:37:00.001-08:00

At 8:00 last night we started watching the Grammy's. As you know these award shows are usually the beginning of a long night of celebration and partying for the celebrities.

At around 10:30 we put the last child down and started cleaning up from another exciting day. At about midnight, Josephine was in bed and I was preparing to turn in when Jedidiah decided to start his own after party.

For the next four hours Josephine and I took turns chaperoning our little "performer" around the house. He wasn't content to just scream, yell and throw up (like they do at most parties). Nor did he want to sit on the couch or lie on the floor. He had to be carried around the room. After throwing up a couple times, he finally kept down Tylenol for his 102.7 fever.

At 4:00 a.m. Josephine and I were exhausted and Jedidiah showed no signs of letting up. He was going to "party" to the break of dawn. Finally, out of sheer desperation we put him in a chair with Baby Einstein playing and he watched it for an hour or more before falling asleep.

Jedidiah woke up this morning but hasn't kept down any fluids or cereal. Apparently, he partied too hard last night. So hard that we'll have to wisk him away to the doctor's later today.

And the Grammy for the best "late night screaming when you should be asleep because mommy and daddy are exhausted" goes to....Jedidiah Riggs!

Josephine and I are honored to accept this Grammy on Jedidiah's behalf. We hope this is the last time he ever wins this award.

LOST

2008-02-04T12:59:00.000-08:00

Yes, we are fans of the show "LOST". We borrowed a friend's DVD sets to catch up through season 3, and we watched the premier of season 4 last Thursday. So who is part of the Oceanic 6??!! Doesn't Charlie's haircut look much better in Hurley's visions? But that's not really why I'm writing again. We experienced another kind of "lost" this past weekend...

James, the little helper that he is, helped me unload the car from a Target run last Friday. He was in charge of putting away the ranch dressing and the two-pack of toothpaste. I found the ranch in the refrigerator, but the toothpaste was no where to be found. Yes, LOST. And we were already out of toothpaste. I asked James where he put the toothpaste, and for the past three days his response has been one of the following:
1) He would avoid eye contact, shrug his shoulders, and continue what he was doing.
2) He'd make a beeline to his room, waste about 5 minutes in there doing who knows what, and return with the reply of "I don't know, Mom."
3) He'd open and close the same drawer in the kitchen about 2 times, and check "underneath" the closest (and smallest) baby toy. Isn't it obvious that two boxes of toothpaste CAN'T be hidden by a rattle?

So, we'd resorted to using the kids' toothpaste, and may I say that the flavor of "Fruit Pursuit" leaves A LOT to be desired - I always chase it with a one minute swish of mouthwash so my teeth feel somewhat clean.

But today, what was LOST is now found. The toothpaste was, in fact, in the kitchen drawer that James had kept opening and closing, but it was under the box of Ziploc freezer bags. I won't even ask him WHY it was under the Ziplocs, let alone in the drawer. I'll just look forward to fresh breath and another new episode this Thursday night.

Teefees

2008-01-30T14:33:00.001-08:00

Check the ticker at the top of the blog - Jedidiah and Jack are 10 months old today! Praise God that He has kept them healthy and growing! Speaking of growing, here's the update:
Jed (below) now has two bottom

teeth erupting. It's hard to tell if this is causing him to be fussy, since he's usually feisty and a real mover and shaker. He loves playing with rattling toys, and even wants to take one with him when he naps. And when he hits himself in the face with it, he lets you know. He doesn't care to nurse anymore, and with the teeth coming in, there's no objection from Mommy.
Jack (upper right) is more easy going than Jed. Jack will smile every time you make eye contact with him. I think his "ba-bas" might mean "Mama." I've heard him saying it over and over when he can't see me then he stops when I show up. We'll see - if these boys are like their mom they'll be talkers for sure! We think Jack might be left handed, just like his two grandmothers (Nana and Lola), and his Uncle Louie. He seems to favor his left hand whenever he reaches or grabs for things.

God is so good - I must admit the days are more manageable than before. I attended a Women's Ministry conference at church last Saturday for the entire day, and Justin took care of the 4. After that, Justin stated that he no longer thinks that my day is exponentially harder than his work day like it used to be. So I told him I have no problem leaving him with all the boys more often.

Desperate Housewife

2008-01-30T14:22:00.001-08:00

Confessions Part II
I love sweets. I love desserts. I really love chocolate. I love sweet chocolate desserts. It's the end of the month and NONE of those are to be found in the house. Well, there are chocolate chips, but after weeks of surviving on that for dessert, it got a bit old. AND too much chocolate makes my skin break out.

Problem: Need sugar. Now. Don't want chocolate chips. Face doesn't want chocolate chips.
Solution: Leftover holiday frosting in the fridge. It's green (it's supposed to be!). It's sweet. It's now gone.

Jonah is 6!

2008-01-15T11:38:00.000-08:00

6 years ago, I was due to give birth to my first child. 6 years and 13 days ago, he was actually born. Jonah came almost 2 weeks early, on January 2, 2002. I love telling the story:
On January 1, 2002, my brother and sister-in-law (also pregnant at the time with their daughter) came over to watch "Best in Show". We ate Mexican food then went to Baskin Robbins for a Cappuccino Blast (decaf, of course. I'm lactose intolerant so the results of this dessert is an entirely different story), then back to our house to watch the movie. My brother and sister-in-law didn't leave too late, but I remember telling them on their way out "I'm probably going to be late in delivering this baby." So, about 3 hours later, my water breaks! Hello! I had time to take a shower while Justin paced up and down the hallway doing absolutely nothing. We arrived at the hospital to find that I was already 7cm dilated! Yes! I decided against getting an epidural, and other than Justin's finger in my face telling me to "blow the candle", and him warning me when the next contraction was coming, everything was fine. After 3 hours of labor, out came our firstborn. He has since set the bar very high: he slept through the night at 11 weeks, was a very good eater, and, to this day, he is an even-tempered and obedient child. I suppose there was no where to go from there but, well, down... OK, OK, our other sons are healthy and well-behaved - I shouldn't compare our children to one another. Hence, we had three more since Jonah. I'm done. Done, done, done.

Our Little Angel

2008-01-10T12:42:00.001-08:00

On December 23, 2007, Jonah participated in the Children's Christmas Choir at church. I found out that they had to dress like angels. Jonah's response: "But angels aren't BOYS, they're GIRLS!" Shows how much he remembered from our "Gabriel visits Mary to tell her she's going to give birth to Jesus" bible study. So what does he do? He chooses to wear the halo with the feathers on it. The feathers. Just when I thought I had him figured out.

Girls' Night Out

2007-12-19T11:26:00.000-08:00

Yay! I got out! I met up with my old (meaning "previous", not "aged") college roommates last Sunday for a little shopping and a LOT of talking. We had dinner at a place called The Sundried Tomato in San Juan Capistrano - the perfect location, since it's halfway between West Covina and South San Diego. Even though we're spread out in SoCal, we still manage to meet at least twice a year. From the left:
Cecilia - So festive in her green blouse, she is currently "between jobs" and searching for something in marketing. That means "very qualified" if your company is hiring.
Me - Finally, a reason to shower and put on makeup.
Rachel - Stay at home mother of 2, we have lots of mommy stuff in common without even having to say "spit up".
Caris - World traveler and missionary, if you need to have something translated to or from Chinese, give her a ring (or "ling", in Chinese).
Denise - The beaming newlywed, she hosted Thanksgiving with her in-laws and cooked her first turkey. There should be a "Congratulations" card for that...!
And the one roommate missing is Maisie, whose job at Frito Lay in Dallas has us all anticipating her return visit for the holidays with gifts of every kind of potato chip you can imagine.

After being friends for around 15 years (and surviving living together), I cherish the friendship I have with my roommates. They are blessings to me! Merry Christmas, ladies! Long live Old People's Crazies! ;-)

Check "Mii" Out

2007-12-12T15:46:00.000-08:00

So we got a Wii in mid-October and everyone in this house over the age of 3 has been playing it and enjoying it practically everyday. For those of you unfamiliar with the sports games, the Wii keeps track of your skill level each time you play. I know that I complain a lot about how busy my day is, but today I decided to jump in on all the fun Jonah and James were having after lunch. I hogged the game and played tennis for half an hour.

There are lots of things I'm proud of as a stay-at-home mom: Jonah is reading at almost a 2nd grade level, James knows his alphabet and all his letter sounds, the twins are healthy at 8 months old and my husband is a godly and faithful husband and teacher. But today, just today, all that pales in comparison to what I've achieved. I'm officially at PRO level in tennis on the Wii with a skill level of 1074.

So don't be jealous of the fact that sometimes I get to sleep in, or stay in my pajamas all day. Be jealous of my tennis skillz!! ACES!!

Video of the Week

2007-12-11T21:48:00.000-08:00

Apologies for any offensive videos from the last "Video of the Week". It was only supposed to be clips from "The Facts of Life", but I think there may have been other videos that were, let's just say, of another orientation. Sorry. Check out this week's video, though. Makes me glad I minored in Spanish Literature in college becuase I can understand everything this guy says. As they say in Jerry McGuire, "You had me at 'Hola'".

Nighty-night

2007-12-01T21:35:00.000-08:00

Bedtime is now a circus. I usually put one of the twins to bed while Justin holds the other twin while putting Jonah and James to bed. Then I get the twin from Justin and put him to bed. Then I go into Jonah and James's room to say goodnight to them. Tonight's conversation:

Me: Goodnight, James.
James: Mama, why did the mouse throw the acorn down to the grass?
Me: What?
James: Why did the mouse throw the acorn down to the grass?
Me: Did you see this in a book?
James: No, on TV. Why did the mouse throw the acorn down to the grass?
Me: Why?
James: 'Cause that's why he's short!
Me: ??????????????????

Oh, they're fine!

2007-11-05T13:49:00.001-08:00

In order to finally post another entry (I know it's been a while), I'm letting Jonah and James run around the house, through the forbidden living room, and allowing Jack and Jed to cry in their baby chairs. Negligence? I think not. Necessary? Yes. That's how I remain sane from day to day. As long as no one's going to get hurt (OK, no guarantee of that with the two older ones dodging doors and each other), I just have to let some things go to have a moment to gather my thoughts or eat or breathe or, in this instance, give an update. Jack and Jed just turned 7 months old - PTL! They love rice cereal, applesauce, peas and carrots (all in pureed form, of course), and they are sleeping through the night! God is so good - His blessings are abundant with four healthy sons and a loving husband, too! Now, if He can only get Rolfe, our 100 lb. German shepherd, to stop eating the fertilizer in the backyard, then life would be REALLY swell. OK, moment over.

Time Out

2007-10-17T10:57:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday Justin and I gave ourselves a "time out" - actually, it was made possible by my brother and sister-in-law, who offered to babysit all 4 boys so we could get a much-needed break. The last time the two of us went out together was 3 1/2 months ago, so we were SO looking forward to it! After a nice relaxing lunch at Islands, where we watched half of the Chargers v. Raiders game, we went and saw The Kingdom. I must admit that I really wasn't interested in seeing it, and I had alternative plans of taking a nap in the theater if I didn't like it. Well, it turned out to be much better than I thought. The underlying story of family beneath the main plot of good v. evil was what appealed to me. Though the acting is good, I had to get past the violent scenes and language. It made me appreciate our life here in the U.S. and I actually looked forward to coming back and picking up our sons.

So now it's been 3 days since Justin and I had our time off - I was ready for another break 2 days ago.

I Spy

2007-10-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

Remember that game "I Spy" you played when you were little? Well, Jonah and James have reached the age where they "play" it in the car:

James: I spy something that is ...blue!
Jonah: The sky! The sky is blue!
James (mumbling to himself): Something that is blue... Yes! The sky is blue!

Then just today:

James: I spy something that is--
Jonah: --white! Something that is white!
James: Yes, white!
Jonah: The car! The car is white!
James: Yes, the car is white! You got it, Jonah!

I just love to sit back and listen.

Have You Ever Wondered?

2007-10-13T21:18:00.000-07:00

Have you ever come home after a long day at work and wondered why food is covering the floor, dinner isn't ready or your wife has that "Thank God you are home!" look on her face?

Today, Josephine took Jonah and James out, did some errands and then got a hour away from home by herself. I spent lots of quality time with the twins. It was a good day but a busy one.

Days like this help me appreciate my wife and moms everywhere.

1/2 year old!

2007-09-30T21:27:00.000-07:00

We made it - with lots of prayer and by the grace of God Jedidiah and Jack are six months old today! Let's see - smiling and laughing: check. Holding heads up: sorta. Rolling over: check. Grasping objects: check. Mouthing objects: check. Sleeping through the night: nope. So far, so good, I suppose. I think our favorite new sound is Jedidiah's impersonation of a Sleestak from Land of the Lost (think heavy saliva-filled breathing). Jed can also frequently be heard entertaining himself in his playpen by practicing his vowel sounds. Jack is more content staring at his hands, which are often clenched into fists. Hopefully the coming weeks will find them sleeping until dawn and entering into the world of solid foods. Rice cereal, here we come!

Messin' Around

2007-09-20T16:12:00.001-07:00

I realize it's been a few weeks since my last entry - Jack and Jedidiah still aren't sleeping through the night :-( and they're more active during the day! Since they tend to wake each other up, we've had them sleeping in separate rooms for the past few months. Jedidiah sleeps in a playpen in the office and Jack sleeps in a crib in their room. A friend said we're defining their preferences, that Jed will be the one who prefers camping and that Jack would rather stay at the Ritz. Maybe that's true, but at least when they're awake they get along well - for the most part. Sometimes I put them in the same crib or on the floor for "together time", and they're fine until one starts touching the other one too much. It's not always the same baby who does the bugging, but eventually one gets tired of the other and starts complaining. I think that's what happened in the womb. There must have been a lot of "He touched me!" or "He's on my side!" complaints in utero that went unresolved, so they just said "We've had enough-let's just get out of here!" That's my theory, anyway.

C'mon get happy!

2007-09-06T16:29:00.001-07:00

Sometimes God gives me glimpses into the future. Having four boys is certainly challenging, but since Jack and Jedidiah have started to smile and laugh, the good Lord is starting to make things more fun. Now Jonah and James can talk to the babies and entertain them more, and before I know it they'll all be jumping on the bed, screaming and pouncing on each other and having a great time. Hopefully by that time they'll also be taking out the trash and cleaning the bathrooms (at least the older ones). That'll be the day when you see us at church or at Costco or at the mall - mommy and daddy and all the little ones following behind - hence "The Partridge Family" reference (BTW, I'm first in line and Justin is #2. No, we aren't expecting a 5th child - are you MAD?!). That's pretty much the only thing we have in common with the Partridges - we don't have plans for a musical tour or a multicolored bus, but I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to get my hands on one of those sweet burgundy velvet suits.

Down and Dirty

2007-08-31T21:31:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows that being a stay-at-home mom has its highs and lows. Well, I've hit an all time low. So low, in fact, that I'm sure you faithful readers of our blog will make a comment the next time I hear from you. I really can't believe it myself. After all these years of staying home, I don't think I've done it before. You'll question my ability as a mother, wonder how I sleep at night, and think twice the next time you see me. You'll think "No! Her?" Yes, me.

So here it is: I haven't showered for TWO days. No, we didn't go camping. Our water hasn't been shut off. No intruder came into our home and forced me to NOT shower. The bathroom door wasn't mistakenly locked and it's taken this long for the locksmith to open it. No, I just haven't bathed. The past two days have been pretty routine - there's a 25% chance that one of my sons is awake and needs something, and in the rare moment when they're all asleep, I want to sleep. Believe me, it's not such a difficult decision to make, deciding whether to shower or sleep. When you're home most of the time, you talk on the phone, you e-mail, but you don't have to see the outside world for days. My hair has been in a ponytail since the last shower and I've resorted to wearing a headband, too, to keep the really stray hairs away from my face. I've been wearing my eyeglasses (except for a short contact lens stint yesterday), and changed in and out (in favor of pajamas) of the same pair of shorts. Only my face has been washed and my teeth brushed- that's it. Now I can't believe I'm sharing it with you all - the more I describe it, the ickier it sounds. Could this be why the kids haven't hugged me lately and the dog runs away when I come out to feed him? Is Justin filing for divorce as I type?

Ah, a quiet house. It's 10:30pm and all the kids have been put to bed. Hold on - they're all asleep? Maybe I can finally take a shower! Then again, maybe I'll just sleep and the shower will have to wait one more day...

MENzanita

2007-08-27T20:27:00.001-07:00

This year has been a fruitful one in terms of babies born to the teachers at Manzanita Elementary, where Justin teaches 4th grade. There are only three male teachers on staff (they call themselves "MENzanita"), and all their wives were pregnant at the same time. From left to right: Cory and Tara (OK, Tara is on staff but Cory was a substitute teacher a lot) became Devin's caregivers in June, Chris and Kacie had Makenna in June, Jason and Lynda had Mason in May, and our twins were born in March. In front, C&K's son Mason, James and Jonah, and J&L's daughter Macie. We all had dinner together at our home last week, and it was like one big happy family. We talked about our own kids and each other's kids in between feeding and holding and wiping our own kids and each other's kids. We're trying really hard to convince the other couples to have more children. After all, you CAN'T just stop at two!

"MENzanita: We know how to make babies!"

Mommy's Vacation Day

2007-08-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

Josephine is taking a much-deserved day off. As of 12:01 a.m. she was off the clock (and sleeping soundly). Since my favorite show is 24, I have decided to chronicle my day ala one season of 24. If you are not familiar with the show, each episode is one hour with each season a total of 24 hours in the life of counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer. He saves the world. My day will not be as exciting - no nuclear bombs to disarm but I did disarm one big poopy diaper.

The Following Takes Place Between...

12:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Everyone is sleeping

1:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Everyone is sleeping

2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Everyone is sleeping

3:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. Jack wakes up and is fed 2 ounces of Similac. He goes right back to sleep after a quick burp.

4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Everyone is sleeping.

5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Everyone is sleeping.

6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. Jedidiah wakes up and is fed 2 ounces of Similac. He goes back to sleep. Trash trucks roar down the street collecting rubbage. Jonah wakes up and then crashes on the couch.

7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Mommy wakes up confused because she did not have to feed the twins. James wakes up and joins Daddy and Jonah on the couch.

8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Joann visits and gets to hold Jedidiah. Jack is still sleeping. Jonah and James eat cereal and constantly interrupt mommy and daddy.

9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Jack wakes up - Time to play. Jed is still up.

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. School time for Jonah and James. Jonah works on subtraction while James colors. Jack hangs out in the chair. Jonah and James push each other around in plastic boxes. Later in the hour James trips and falls right on his nose. Ouch! Jack finally eats. Jed finally goes to sleep. Mommy leaves with a gigantic smile on her face.

11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Jack takes a nap. Jed wakes up around 11:30 and eats at 11:45. Jonah and James start watching the Babar movie.

12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Daddy gives Jedidiah the medicine he forgot to give at mealtime. Back to school. More math for Jonah - this time we are working on coins. Both babies are asleep.

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Babar movie stopped. Lunch time for Jonah and James. Dinosaur chicken and carrots. Yum! I wake up Jack and he hangs out then eats at 1:30.

2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Jedidiah sits in his chair and watches his fingers. Jonah and James take turns using the computer (Playhouse Disney). James freaks out because he had an accident in his pullups (Poor Lightning McQueen).

3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Jack wakes up, eats, then vomits. Jedidiah takes a nap at 3:30. Jonah and James are pried free from the computer and sent to their room for a nap.

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Jonah sneaks out of his room and hides in the living room (twice). He tries his best to convince me that he does not need to sleep anymore. Considering this is the first time everyone is asleep, Jonah must go back to his room. He has the option of reading books quietly. Daddy needs a few minutes to recharge. Jonah, sensing that Daddy is along and bored, sneaks out again to inform him that he obeyed and read books in his room and has slept enough. Jonah is sent back to his room.

5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. I got to spend some rare time bonding with just Jonah. It was nice. James wakes up at 5:30.

6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Jack wakes up and hangs out in the chair. Jed wakes up a little later and also chills in the chair. Jonah and James play with trains and cars. Jack is fed 1 1/2 ounces of formula.

7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Jonah and James wathc Bugs Life. It Starts getting dicey. The twins are both hungry and crying. One eats but only a little. After switching to feed the other, he tags his teammate who begins to cry also. They are both very hungry, very tired or both (me too).

8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. I am slowly pumping more formula in each like the gas tank of my car. Just enough and the tank is full. Too much and it overflows. I hit the magic amount and Jed gets sleepy and goes down to bed.

9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Jonah and James finish watching the movie. Jack joins us as I brush teeth, change pajamas and we pray. Three down, one to go. I feed Jack one last time. I try to give him just enough to top off but not too much or else...Jack vomits several gallons worth! I pushed it one gulp too far. I put Jack down in his bed to clean up and he falls asleep. Yes!

10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. I clean up the kitchen and check on the twins a few times to make sure they are alive (they never go down this easy and they haven't made a peep). God is so merciful. Josephine calls. She's on her way home. I heat up my dinner and chow down.

11:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. Josephine arrives home and we chat about her shopping adventures. I finish cleaning up, feed the dog and get ready for bed.

Wow, what a day. I really appreciate my wife and moms everywhere. Jack Bauer is tough but not tough enough to be a mom. Sorry Jack.

Jonah's Swimming Class

2007-08-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Jonah completed his last day of Level 1 swimming at the West Covina pool. He jumped off the diving board (no small feat). According to his report card, he is proficient in most areas except for moving his arms in full circles when swimming on his stomach. The teacher recommended that he take the same level class next time.

Jonah has made great progress compared to last year when each class would begin with crying. Most days he would only get in the pool if he could play with toys.

Jonah, you are one step closer to an Olympic medal. Way to go!

Jack is Home

2007-08-14T14:38:00.001-07:00

Jack and Mommy arrived home around 9:30 this morning. Both looked very tired but happy to be back in familiar surroundings. They are napping right now.

Jack's Surgery - Update #2

2007-08-13T14:56:00.000-07:00

After swimming lessons we stopped by the hospital. Jack was sleeping when we arrived. He let out a couple whimpers while we were there but quickly quietly down when snuggled in mommy's arms. The other child in the room wasn't so calm. He was screaming most of the time. He had the same surgery but at 8 months old. I guess the older you are the more it hurts.

Fortunately the older child is going home tonight. Hopefully, Josephine and Jack can get some rest.

Jack's Surgery - Update

2007-08-13T10:11:00.000-07:00

Josephine just called. Dr. Sherman said that the surgery went well and the hernia was repaired. Jack is still waking up and will move back upstairs to peds in a hour or so. I'm off to Jonah's swimming lessons and then we'll stop by the hospital.

Jack's Surgery

2007-08-12T22:16:00.001-07:00

Jack will have surgery on Monday morning at 7:30 a.m. to repair his inguinal hernia and check out a few other areas. Normally, the procedure would be outpatient but Jack gets special treatment as a preemie. He will arrive at 6 a.m. and stay overnight for observation. We hope he can come home first thing Tuesday morning. Josephine will be taking him and staying overnight.

Please keep Jack and Josephine in your prayers.

Thanks.

E.A.S.Y. Does It

2007-08-12T18:46:00.001-07:00

The Secret of the Baby Whisperer is the best book ever! We started reading through this book again out of desperation. We have slowly implemented some of the suggestions with great results. The first step involves putting them on a schedule. It's a flexible schedule that takes into account how newborns eat, sleep and play. The E. stands for Eat, A for activity, S for sleep and Y for You (Mommy/Daddy Time). It has been an answer to our prayers. Jedidiah follows the EASY schedule but Jack is more of a ESAY baby. He prefers to have activity before eating.

Now we understand more or less how the day will go. This makes life so much easier.

Next, we decided to tackle the dreaded bedtime. For several weeks it was a marathon getting the twins to sleep. Most days it started at 9 pm and ended between 1-2 am. Now we keep them up after 7 pm until about 10. They have slowly learned how to soothe themselves to sleep (another tip from the book) and we are happy to report that two days in a row they have both been asleep before 11 pm. We top them off a few minutes after that. Then both usually sleep for 4 hours straight with a couple feedings during the night.

The next task is breaking the night feedings. The book recommends using a pacifier at night if the babies are over 10 pounds because they don't really need to eat - they want be soothed by feeding. So last night at 4:15, I gave Jack a pacifier. After about 20 minutes he fell asleep until the morning feeding. Jack actually skipped a feeding. That's a small miracle.

The Baby Whisperer Rocks!

P.S. It is 10:09 p.m. and all four boys are sound asleep.

Jedidiah Moves Out

2007-08-12T18:37:00.000-07:00

Over the past two weeks we have been taking steps to help the twins go to sleep at a decent hour. We decided to move Jedidiah into his own room (the office) about a week ago in order to eliminate the possibility that they would wake each other. This move was precipitated by our plan to teach them to soothe themselves to sleep. Since returning from the hospital in June, we have been holding each for about 30 minutes after each feeding due to the acid-reflux. As a result, they have grown accustomed to falling asleep this way. Fortunately, their gastro doctor gave the ok to let them sleep on their right side (They love it!)

They are doing well so far. I think everything will be just fine as long as Jedidiah doesn't mention the cool computer in his room.

Say Cheese!

2007-08-09T19:56:00.000-07:00

As a present for my "babies" shower back in May, my friend Tracy gave me a photo session with her photographer friend Sarah. Two weeks ago she came to our house to take pictures of the twins and the rest of the family, and the photos turned out so beautifully! Even our ho-hum living room looks like a professional studio in the background. Isn't this a great picture of our sons? And look - James is almost smiling! I highly recommend Sarah - she can conveniently come to your home, and her pictures capture lots of personality. Schedule a session with her and I get a free 5x7 (shameless promoting, I know). Now, if she could only digitally erase the dark circles from under my eyes...

Thanks for Stopping By

2007-08-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

Thank you for visiting our blog. It gives us joy to know that people are interested in our "exciting" life and we especially appreciate the comments some of you have left. It is rather strange that an online journal could be a way to connect with others. For us it has provided a means of interacting with the adult world while surrounded by boys, diapers and formula.

A special thanks to Lynda and Annette who have posted words of encouragement and advice. We never get enough of either.

To leave a comment about any entry, just click on the pencil icon and type away.

God Bless,

Justin

We Got a Nano!

2007-08-06T22:00:00.001-07:00

What do you call a male nanny?
(He's actually grandpa/lolo, and not ready at all for full time care of the twins. He doesn't even change diapers.)

Introducing Aquaman!

2007-08-06T21:47:00.001-07:00

Jonah started his second summer of swimming lessons today. His level 1 class includes about 6 other kids. Last year we endured lots of crying and the teacher used toys to coax him into the pool. This year Jonah slowly made his way to the side of the pool but reminded the instructor that he was not interested in the deep end. James and I watched as Jonah splashed around and reluctantly followed directions. Each of his sentences began with "I don't want to..."

Fortunately Jonah will follow most requests even if he is opposed to doing so. James is another story. He may be 18 before swimming lessons begin. I asked James about swimming lessons. He quickly reminded me that his last adventure in the pool included floating in the middle of Uncle Laurence's jacuzzi. End of discussion.

Soy Bebe. Bebo Soy.

2007-08-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

Jack and Jedidiah recently visited the pediatric gastroenterologist. They are gaining weight well but the doctor decided to discontinue some medicine and change the formula based on the amount of vomiting. So, we started a soy-based formula, increased the amount of rice cereal and stopped Reglan. The first night they reacted well to the changes. The next day we realized the extra cereal was too much - It made it more difficult for them to burp resulting in more vomits.

We hope the new changes will help Jack and Jedidiah keep their food in their tummies instead of on Mommy and Daddy. So far, so good.

Vacation Bible School

2007-07-31T00:05:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of VBS. Jonah, James and I enjoyed an exciting day of worship, skits, bible-studies, crafts and food. Jonah had a great time with his buddy Ezra while James spent the morning in the nursery. I think he enjoyed being one of the big kids for once.

The topic for this year's VBS is the ten plagues. It might seem like an odd theme for kids bible study but that's the beauty of scripture. From Old Testament through the New Testament, it is God's word and there is always a message He wants to share with us. All He needs is an open heart.

Go, James, Go!

2007-07-28T23:43:00.001-07:00

Today was an amazing day for James. As some of you already know, he is not potty trained. In fact, we haven't had a chance to even start. His response to our requests to just sit on the potty has always been a firm "No." Now, if you know James then you know he is one of those kids who can't be forced to do something he doesn't want to do. You need to give him candy.

So, I have been waiting for warm weather to start training him. Today, I made him go "O Natural" on the bottom with the kids potty nearby. I proceeded to feed him lots of fluids and crackers without putting any pressure on him to go. He knew that candy would be consumed after a successful #1 or #2. Despite many requests I kindly refused to put a diaper or even underwear on him.

Several minutes (or hours) into a regular day James rewarded us with a #1. We erupted in celebration, songs, dancing -- We were so proud and he knew. "Can I have candy?" The real motivation was revealed and yes you can have several pounds of candy.

The days plan included a trip to Pasadena for a birthday party. Josephine, Jonah and James needed to leave after 2 p.m. and we were quickly approaching decision time -- James really wanted a diaper which meant he had to go #2. This was a golden opportunity to literally push the whole potty-training process forward light-years.

A few minutes later, I was cleaning up the counter when James triumphantly declared that he had made poo-poo. We have had false alarms in the past so of course I had to verify before any prizes would be awarded.

I'll spare you the graphic details, (I do have a picture if you want to see it! Eck!) but I'll just say that Mr. James (aka Minis) had pulled out all the stops. There was nothing "minis" about it.

So, it was time to celebrate again. We had promised James candy and a "Go, Diego, Go" DVD if he went #2. So after cleaning up, eating dinner and dressing, James and I headed off to the one place every "big boy" must go to - Best Buy.

Congratulations James!

Potato, Potahto, Inguinal, Iguana

2007-07-27T23:22:00.001-07:00

Jack has a hernia. I always thought this type of injury was common to older men lifting objects such as cars, heavy boxes, or large bags of marshmallows. We can't prove it but we think Jack has been working out in his room by lifting his crib, doing push ups or climbing on the mobile. This might explain why he is bigger than Jedidiah.

Actually, the type of hernia he has is called an inguinal hernia and has nothing to do with lifting anything. It occurs when part of the abdominal wall doesn't close. This is not uncommon with premature babies. After meeting with the pediatric surgeon we have confirmation - Jack will need surgery to repair the opening.

I'm sure if Jack could choose he would want an iguana instead. But we explained to him that some pets take more responsibility than others. If he takes good care of the inguinal then maybe, just maybe, we'll think about getting him an iguana.

James Goes Underwater

2007-07-27T23:08:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday we took the whole brood to Arcadia for swimming at Uncle Laurence's house. Lea, A.J., Jonah and James suited up and headed to the pool. Actually, they spent most of the time in the jacuzzi. Well, after several minutes of splashing the adults and kids had settled into their spots. Laurence and I(with Jed) on the loungers, Josephine inside the house and Lolo right next to the jacuzzi.

Laurence was about to check on Josephine when our parent radar picked up a disturbance in the force. Turns out James, who usually sits right on the little shallow step for hours, had wandered into the middle of the jacuzzi. Jonah stood right next to him as James' head slipped below the water (How about a little help Big Bro?). Lolo and I were slow to act but fortunately Laurence stepped into the jacuzzi and pulled James from the water.

James was just fine. It appears that he just held his breath below water for those few seconds waiting for one of the adults to rescue him.

"Thanks Uncle Wauwence!"

My Best Friend's Wedding

2007-07-26T00:05:00.001-07:00

Denise & Carl tie the knot!

The beautiful bride and an OK bridesmaid. :-)

On July 5, dear friends of ours got married in a beautiful ceremony and had a wonderful reception. I was honored to be a bridesmaid - I got to wear makeup and everything! Denise and I met in our first year of college. Physics class brought us together and after many sleepless nights of studying for quizzes over countless bags of white cheddar popcorn, our friendship has withstood 17 years of the good and the better. Denise has the patience of a saint - not many people have been so close to me for so long (other than family, who have no choice in the matter). She's the sister I never had, and I'm so blessed that as roommates we even wore the same size clothes - can you say "double the wardrobe"? She was own my beautiful Maid of Honor 11 years ago, and she was a more beautiful bride - all of us who know her well were so happy for her on the Big Day. Her husband, Carl, has affectionately been referred to as "the 6th roommate" by those of us who shared a condo on Mahaila St., and now that they're officially Mr. and Mrs., they'd better let us sleep on their couch as much as he slept on ours!

Congratulations, Dee and Carl! We love you!

All right

2007-07-24T00:26:00.000-07:00

Wow, God is a fast worker. At 11:30pm Justin and I were in the groove with the twins' nightly routine: we had been holding them since 7:00pm, done a number of change-feed-vomit cycles, and had started to watch yet another sitcom episode when Jed fell asleep on Justin's chest. After 4 hours that was definitely something to be joyous about. Then it happened: Jed let out a really loud chuckle and smiled. A big smile. Then a few moments later, he laughed. Justin smiled, and I smiled. God had reminded us that it's all worth it. My heart is right again. I love my boys.