Puke. Cough. Ugh.

That about sums it up. Yesterday, as we were preparing for Jeff to leave for India and getting ready to head out to dinner, Cole began to throw up. As I was literally crying, thinking about how hard it will be with Jeff leaving, if Ava or I (or even Jeff) gets this stupid bug, Jeff tried to convince me it was just food poisoning and it was only going to happen once. Ha. Jeff left to run his errands and Cole puked again. And again. And after Jeff got home, again. 2 am was the last time.

Jeff got up to leave just before 5 am. Ava did, too. Did I mention I'm not a morning person?!  She didn't really go back to sleep, and Cole woke up with a nasty cough. Seriously?! Poor kid can't catch a break.

Ugh.

It's 9:33 and the kids are in bed. For now.

We survived day one.

Proof of Life

This weekend as Jeff is preparing for his mission trip to India, a missionary leader from Atlanta came up to prep the team and stayed with us. Of course, Ava decided to cry out several times in the night, and, though we got to her quickly, I'm sure he could hear it. In the morning, when I apologized for the noise, he said "It's just proof of life".

Boy isn't that a true statement about so many things in this season of life.

No sleep. Proof of life.

Messy hair. Proof of life.

Running late. Proof of life.

Yelling at my three year old. Proof of life.

Saying I'm sorry. Proof of life.

I am alive. They are alive. We are in it together. So thankful for this season, for my family, and simply for life. Remembering to choose joy today (as I wait semi-patiently for the plumber to come fix the sink :/).

Crash.

This week has been a crash into reality. We spent the weekend in Switzerland (yes, Switzerland...crazy, I know!), then I came home on Monday, my mom went home a few hours later, Jeff came home on Wednesday, and somehow, on Friday, we're still not in the groove of things.

On Monday, when I got home, it felt like life was a little upside down. The lack of sleep (from the time change and just traveling all day), how much the kids needed me to snuggle (Ava woke up 3x in the middle of the night that night), and just trying to catch up with everything (like unpacking, which I still haven't done) all seemed so overwhelming.

We survived Monday night, a playdate on Tuesday, and Wednesday's school routine. Then Jeff came home. We were all beyond excited to have Daddy home with us! But somewhere in the excitement, it has been so tough to stay on the same page. We have been hot and cold for two days. Two really long days.

Part of the problem is Cole's bedtime routine (or lack thereof), and the fact that we are very limited in our time together while the kids are asleep, because Cole simply won't go to sleep. Even as I type at 9pm, he is lying in bed, unhappy, and awake.

I hope that we'll be able to get back in sync, with bedtime and with each other, soon. Really soon.

And so it begins...

I've always loved reading blogs, and even helped write a blog for All About Baby, but I never thought I'd write one for our family...err...me. As I was debating whether I wanted to do it or not (another words, whether I wanted to share my thoughts out loud), I was on the blogspot page and realized that some time ago I had already created a blog for "The Lacey Family". So, it took the thinking-up-a-blog-name out of the equation and here I am.

It's 2014, and my word for the year is 'joy'. Our kitchen window sill has small standing letters that spell it out each time I'm at the sink (leftover from Christmas). And, come to think of it, our doormat is still the one that says JOY, too. I want to choose joy each day, because it is not always going to be there. Not every situation is joy-full, unless you choose it to be. And I'm sure I won't always get it right.  But I'd really like to try.

It's a Saturday, and Jeff has left for Switzerland. I have been mopey all day and I feel super lonely. But I have to remember to choose joy. Jeff is the hardest worker I know. He is traveling to work to support our family. (AND, I will be spending the weekend with him IN SWITZERLAND.  My mom will be watching the kiddos, and I will be joining him for 3 days.) So, today, I am sad that he has left (again...he just got home on Monday night). I am bummed that I feel alone, especially in parenting, but also because my best friend is not here. But, I know I have to choose to find the joy.

So, I'd like to share some things I'm thankful for. Maybe that's how I will end each post? It is a good reminder to me of all the big (and little) things that bring me joy.

being Mommy to Cole & Ava - and spending this time with them while they are little
having Jeff as my husband and father to our children
a warm, comfortable home
family, friends, and a church to be a part of

I am so blessed. And I'm choosing joy.