Healing

God intervened again!!! Jonas started unceasing coughing at the end of his nap yesterday, and by evening he sounded as bad as he sounded last month when he spent several days in the hospital! His breathing was labored and barky.

Of course I gave in to fear momentarily, thinking that of COURSE it would be Friday night when we would have to pay a hospital visit as opposed to Dr. visit for a prescription for steroids. It being the week before Christmas, I was panicking about FedEx letting Jason off while we stay in the hospital, since they work this weekend.

HOWEVER unlike his last croup "normal" remedies WORKED! Especially taking him out in the cold air really seemed to soothe his inflamed throat. We had extra "quick fix" breathing treatments that we were able to give him that also helped. He still woke up several times and it was a long night keeping him "under control," but we all slept at home! I am so so so thankful for this provision! Now we pray that we will be completely healthy by Christmas! It was a bizarre flare-up as we didn't even know Jonas was sick at all! Praise our Healer!

Snow Days

FORT-good for several hours of play without Mom! We made way cooler ones when I was a kid though, involving huge sheets and clothspins. Maybe I will broaden my architectural skills. Look what a handsome toy I found in the toybox!

Proof that we did celebrate Santa Lucia Day this year-minus the dressed-up daughter with candles in her hair...Mmm any excuse to make these rolls!

Spinach

I am not in the mood to fight the camera right now, so I'll just write about the new addition to our family: spinach!

Caedmon has always been a wonderful eater, in quality and quantity! He prefers meat and veggies to sweets, but really likes everything.

So like most parents of 1 child, we thought we were experts. Then came Jonas to humble us, who has not up til this past week, eaten a single bite of meat or veggies, unless it was heavily disguised. He has the sweetest tooth for sugar and white carbs. His favorite thing is baked goods like scones and sweet rolls, but at any meal he will ditch the taco to eat just the tortilla, ditch the peanut butter for the bread and jelly. He has mostly survived on breads with some yogurt and cheese for protein.

I am not an overly hovering parent, and many people told me he would grow out of it if I kept offering good choices and not giving in to treats and snacks between meals.

Imagine my surprise yesterday when I made the boys PB&honey sandwiches (honey is another of J's favorites!) and myself a salad of mostly spinach. They asked for one bite, then another, then another! After finishing my salad, they wanted their own. Then for supper Jonas didn't even eat the cheese in his taco, but just PLAIN spinach! Maybe I am speaking too early, but I believe spinach is not a bad word in our family anymore! They prefer it with dressing of some kind, but even for lunch today Jonas left all his "goodies" in his salad and picked out only the spinach! If that weren't enough, the boys loved dipping asparagus in ranch dressing last night! PRAISE THE LORD!

I know that spiritual development and other areas are more or equally important as what my kids eat, but I am thrilled with this new development!

CHRISTmas doings

I think I have always thought it was difficult to keep Christ in Christmas, at least at the center. Jesus' birth was always supplemental, it seemed. This year, we have had a ball keeping our focus on the HOPE we have in Jesus. We have talked a lot about lights, and Jesus being the Light of the world. I am enjoying, too, teaching the boys all the Christmas songs! Advent is fun when you have two toddlers asking every day when Jesus' birthday is coming!
Here are the boys painting ornaments! (Jonas had to taste the paint). Baking, baking, baking. Here are the lickings from the gingerbread stable we made.

So the support beam is not very supportive, but we had so much fun making it! I love hearing the boys play with the characters and act out the story! Many of the decorations disappeared, though. :-)

Cleaning up. Caedmon is in a phase where he LOVES helping with dishes! I try to have the patience to let him, because, afterall, his future wife will thank me!

A tradition we started at dinner is to have a sampler plate of Christmas cookies for dessert. For each cookie that one takes, though, a Bible verse has to be recited! This has been wonderful to watch. Jason goes back to verses he learned through song as a kid. Caedmon will willingly recite whole chapters if it gets him yet another treat! Jonas usually is only good for filling in the last word of a verse, although he has prompted Jason when he forgets what comes next in a verse! So precious! Our new verse(s) this week is Luke 2:10-11 "Do not be afaid. I bring you good news of great joy! It is for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you! He is Christ the Lord!" I hope everyone is enjoying this chaotic season as much as we are, even if it is just watching the peaceful snow drift gently down.

Caedmon

I am totally stealing Joie's tradition of going back in time to celebrate birthdays! Caedmon turned 3 yesterday, and I enjoyed finding his baby pics. Here is at Caedmon's baby shower from our church, 2 weeks before labor. Caedmon Clarence Anderson, 12/3/06, 2 weeks early, 8lbs. 4 oz, 20 1/2 in!!!!!!

He used to have dark hair, and several birthmarks.

One of my favorite pictures of all time...

Here he is 3 years big, birthday waffles and all. Thank you, God, for the most incredible 3 years with our son! Bye bye "terrible twos."

SHEEP

I simply must put in a plug for Nancy Shaw's Sheep children's books! Anyone who hasn't read them must check them out at the library! They are so clever and always make me laugh. I discovered them earlier this year and they are delightful! That's it, happy reading!