Our Week

This week has been trying to say the least. I came down with a bad cold last Friday afternoon, and it turned into bronchitis early Monday morning. That is when the winter storm came through Charlotte, and we became snowed/iced-in to our house. Thankfully, David was able to stay home to take care of Cohen and Henry while I rested in bed.

Wednesday came around, and Hannah, our new babysitter, helped me while David went back to work. Cohen and Henry had a wonderful time playing with Hannah. Then around 5:15, I was upstairs feeding Henry and I heard a huge bang. I knew it wasn't good. Thirty seconds later, I saw Cohen standing in the doorway crying, and his face dripping in blood. Poor Hannah looked terrified. They were playing hide-and-seek on the couch, behind the cushions and blankets. Cohen jumped on Hannah then flew off the couch onto the coffee table. Thankfully, David was on his way home and immediately took Cohen to the ER for stitches.

Cohen was such a brave boy! To him, the trip to the ER was just another fun adventure. The nurses and doctor loved him and swore he was the cutest kid they have ever had in the room. Cohen did cry while the doctor stitched him up, though. He first screamed, "MAMA!!" Then it was, "DADA!!" And finally, Cohen screamed, "ENWY!!" Poor buddy...Four stitches, 2 Cars stickers and a trip to McDonalds for a Happy Meal later, Cohen was finally back home around 9:30. He is fine and even went to school yesterday! Here he is this morning, showing off his shiner.

I am still battling this bronchitis, and I am praying my boys don't get sick! I want this week to go away and for tomorrow to be a good day. Here is Henry snuggling with sweet Liz this morning.

Last year, I wrote the quote below on a canvas and hung it in our bedroom. I read it every day as another reminder of how blessed I am to live each day. On days when I feel like I can't possibly change one more blow-out diaper, stop the whining of a testy two-year-old, soothe the cries of my young baby, pick up toys, clean spilled stains off the couch or scrub dried-up food off the floor or watch Cars for the 352nd time, I think of this quote, and remind myself that even if I am having just a "normal" day, I am blessed and I should be thankful that my day was normal. This week, I have been praying for my normal day to return.

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day, I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want more than all the world, your return."

Normal Day, oh how I miss you. Hopefully you will return tomorrow.

Here are some pictures I snapped when David got home. God I love these boys!

Henry all bundled up, ready to play outside

Cohen reached for the scissors in the kitchen drawer and asked me to cut off his band-aid. I explained that it had to be taken off by hand. He didn't like it one bit (notice the runny nose from crying).

My tough little man!