Naked Nudie (aka "Fun Buns")

Birds of a Feather...

Losing Control 5 Minutes Home

I walked through the doors this afternoon and enjoyed a renewing sense of calm...until the nanny walked out the door and Lil walked up the stairs. Then it was ON...or so Thomas had determined.

While I fed Cooper a snack, I could hear him resuming an activity in the bathroom. A mom knows not to trust the quiet, but I guess I kinda got lost in the feel good moment of peace and quiet. I checked in on him, only to find him "washing" the mirror with soap and a comb and toothpaste. So proud of himself. No harm, really.
Three more bites of cheese from Cooper and Tommy was yelling for me. I found him sitting buck naked in the sink full of bubbles, toothpaste and dental floss, water slopping all over the floor.
I pulled Cooper out of snack time, put him into his walker and pulled Tommy out of the sink and into the shower. Turned my back, stepped out to find towels, and heard laughing from BOTH Cooper and Thomas. Ducked quickly back in, only to find Cooper covered in water, dripping actually, water all over the floor and toilet paper tossed all around in various stages of lumps, clumps and disintegration. "Thomas, why is water all over Coop?" I asked, a bit shocked. "Did you throw water at your brother?"
"No, mom," he replied. "I was washing his hair."
Cooper went back into his high chair so I could pull Thomas out of the shower. Dried him off, went to get clothes. Laughter again. Came down the hall to find Tommy "helping" Cooper eat his toast and jam, more jam and bread smeared on his face and body than anywhere near his mouth. Ahhhhhhh!!!!

Tub time for both! I need to go back to work, and I only just walked through the door!

Thomas' first blog entry

"Welcome to Tommy's Penguin World! I like Penguins!"--Thomas

Health and Patience

I realized that I wasn't quite myself when a friend asked me how I was doing, and when I asked why, she told me that I wasn't my usual jolly, happy self lately. It was sobering to know that I'd begun to let the sleepless nights and endless worry over continued sickness get to me in ways that my friends were also keying into. It has not been easy, these months since August. It was that month that Cooper became sick, and it seems that there have been only a few days since that I would say he's healthy. It has been challenging to keep up our sense of humor and our optimism in the midst of it all, but as we continue on, I know that what we have endured will only make it that more sweet when both boys are healthy and the worries move on to other areas of our lives.

Cooper

Shortly before Christmas I finally had enough of some nagging worries and took the little guy in. Turns out that despite continued cold and flu symptoms, they'd done little to stem his growth, and he was putting on weight as he should. The "bruise" that was conjuring up all sorts of nightmares in my mind, with it's refusal to go away, fade or shrink, turns out to be a Mongolian birthmark. Leave it to Cooper to have a birthmark that only something like 7% of Caucasian children have. The dark coloring in his belly button is his umbilical cord scab that is being stubborn about drying up normally. Fortunately, despite having Bruce upstairs for his entire life, I'd been so caught up with these issues and his cough that I neglected to think "ears". With an ear infection prescription in hand, I could only shake my head and thank God that I'd been giving Coop Tylenol for the top two teeth that are ballooning out but refusing to relieve the incessant pain and pressure.
Now, in January, he's on his second round of stronger antibiotics for yet another ear infection. After three and a half years without an ear issue with Thomas, I feel like we're in uncharted territory right now. I'm just so thankful that Bruce can keep a watchful eye on his ears and overall health. It doesn't stop my chaotic runs to Madrona after hours clinic to get it all taken care of, but it's great to have his consult and his wealth of experience with just this sort of thing.

Tommy's Evening with the Lawrences

Tonight I had to rush off to take Cooper to the after hours clinic. I didn't want to take Thomas along, knowing all the germs that we'd be walking into, so I quickly called up Jenny to see if I could drop him off. It made sense, as Tommy and Isaac are all about being buddies right now, but I've yet to just drop him off like this, although Jenny has watched him before when he was little. A few tears fell until I pointed out all the fun things he could do with Isaac, and then he was practically begging to get out the door.
"You'll be right back, Mom?" he asked. "Yes, as soon as I get back from the doctors."
"You'll be really, really, really quick?"
"Yes, I'll be back real soon to pick you up, just like preschool."
Jenny met us out on the walk and he barely gave me a second glance as he bound up their steps.
My little man. I couldn't believe it as I drove away. It was so strange to just drive away, to leave him to play with his friends. Friends? He would rather be with his friend than drive to the doctor's with mom? He was fine and happy? He was safe without me? All the things he could do without me? Would he be kind? Would he be polite? Would he be too demanding? What about the potty? Would he miss me and cry? Would Jenny never want to watch him again? Was I wrong to feel some sense of relief that it was just Cooper and I heading to the doctor? That I only had to worry about one son while on this outing?
One more step. So many thoughts...and to think...someday he'll walk out my door and go away, get married. What will I do then?

Go Seahawks!

"We want the ball...and we're gonna score!"--Matt Hasselbeck