Peanut Butter Picky

Which do you prefer?

A friend of mine asked about favorite peanut butter. I had to laugh. Jack has been our peanut butter connoisseur. He only likes #9 (and he KNOWS the difference somehow), and the kid ate TONS of it. It was totally normal to just have him eat a plain gob of peanut butter straight from the spoon as a snack. He's sort of stepped away from peanut butter for the time being, but I imagine at some point in the not too distant future, he'll be back with his true love. 

Jason is not a peanut butter fan at all. (In fact, he really doesn't care about anything with nuts.) He eats peanut butter when he's having a PB and J sandwich, but the P on that sandwich really is meant to be the very bare minimum (like wave a bit of peanut butter 3" over the sandwich and he'd be good) and gobs of strawberry jelly. Ha!

Shawn is once again the least picky on the peanut butter topic. He'll eat it without much complaint. He doesn't exactly ask for it, but he eats it. 

All Boxed Up

Sometimes, I don't even know what to say. This was one of those times. I walked into Jack's room last night, and I found this...

He made me come over and knock on the "door" (side of the tub) before he'd talk to me. Oooo-kaaay. Whatever floats your boat, kiddo. LOL

Made It to the Top

These two were hanging outside this afternoon. They made it to the top!

World Prematurity Day

This post was first published November 17, 2011...

~~~

Today we are purple.

Purple to honor all of the millions of babies worldwide who were born too soon.

Purple to honor the fight of those babies and their families for survival.

Purple to honor those babies who can fight no more.

Today we are purple to honor those we love who have been touched by prematurity.

Today I was purple to honor our super boys, Shawn and Jason.

I will forever be amazed by the strength and determination our two boys showed in the early days of their lives (and continue to show today). They endured more in those months than many people ever experience in their entire lives. It seemed like every complication possible was thrown their way, but together they conquered the NICU.

They captured the hearts of everyone who worked with them. (I think they still do. :) )

Our guys survived and thrive.

We are the lucky ones.

---

Born at 28 weeks and 3 days, our guys were not even 3 pounds and about as long as a Barbie doll. (As tiny as they were, they were huge for their gestation.)

Shortly after the boys were born. This is Isaac's ring.
It would have easily slid all the way up to their armpits.

Isaac's ring on a foot.



A little hand barely able to hold daddy's thumb.

A small round band aid to protect a delicate knee 
(their knees were so delicate that the skin would
get raw when they'd lay on their bellies)

Our guys were tiny but mighty.

Shawn, Baby A:

The first time I was able to see Shawn.
I didn't even get to see him in the delivery room.

Shawn - not even a week old.

Holding Shawn for the first time. I am so grateful to
our respiratory therapist who made this happen.

Shawn in his first clothes.
They were preemie size and still swam on him for weeks.

Mommy and daddy with Shawn.

Shawn in December 2007

Jason, Baby B:

Meeting Jason for the first time. I was given a brief glimpse
of Jason in the operating room, but they held him up for me for literally a second.

Mommy and daddy with Jason

Jason under the Billi lights for jaundice.

 

Holding Jason for the first time.
He was on a ventilator to help him breathe.

Daddy with Jason

Jason in December 2007

Our first picture as a family of 4 (and the first time I'd held both boys together). 
December 2007

 ---

They had a rough start, but our super boys are strong, smart, determined, and funny.

Shawn holding a picture of himself that was taken on the exact
same calendar day - 10 years apart!
2007 and 2017

Jason holding a picture of himself that was taken on the exact
same calendar day - 10 years apart! 
2007 and 2017

We are the lucky ones -- I hold that knowledge in my heart -- because our boys are here with us.

The Plague

Well, tonight didn't go as planned at all because, as one of the boys quipped, "The plague is upon us." It seems 2/3 of the team has contracted the pest that makes mothers everywhere cringe. Oh yes. We got 'em...or at least 2 of them did.

What you ask?

Lice.

OMG, lice.

We spent the night de-lousing all of us (because the family that de-louses together, stays together), washing pretty much everything, and doing all of the other fun that comes along with it. I may also have spent some time rocking myself in the corner, but I got over it. lol.

It seems that the shampoo is doing its thing, which is all we can ask for at this point. Fingers crossed!

Almost Friday

It's been a looooooong week, and we are all feeling it. Bring on Friday!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

Oh, my heart...