Last Week's Review

Last week was brought to us via colds, coughs, the flu, and home construction.  Overall it was kind of a bust.  This week's lesson plans are some of a repeat of last week and there is simply nothing to be done about it.  On Saturday Mike started redoing the upstairs shower.  Home construction is blah!  He's almost done, thankfully.  He took last Monday off to get the insulation and drywall in.  We are so thankful to his dad for working every bit as hard as Mike did to get this job completed, especially since it wasn't exactly planned.  Xavier is loving every minute of having construction in the house!  I did get him to stop for a few minutes to do a little phonics work...

Monday

 

Natalee and I enjoyed the extra quiet of having brother upstairs to do her reading without interruption.

Late Sunday Zayden started fighting a cold.  Monday he was still worn out, as evidenced by the two hour nap he took in this position Monday morning. (I checked on him and his breathing frequently and he was in our school room with me!)

Ameliya had all her energy.  ALL of it.  Ha!  She likes to ask to do 'cool with her 'tickers at the table.

Monday may have been the kindest of the days last week.

Tuesday

Tuesday Natalee started in with a runny nose and grouchy attitude.  I made her take a nap at rest time and, despite her dismay, she fell asleep.

She continued with grouches and Mike was working, so we watched The Little Mermaid that night. She also started reading the Little House series.  I love this!

Zayden Samuel turned 3 months on Tuesday.

And Ameliya wanted her picture taken, too.

Wednesday

Snow, cold, and gray were also themes of last week.  Wednesday was no exception.  We had an early recess so the kids could go outside while the flakes were big and fat and pretty and the wind was still!

Zayden's cold continued.  I started to grow weary and worried.  This was the day my spirits started to droop.

Thursday

Thursday I took Zayden to both the chiropractor and his doctor to be checked on.  The cough was diagnosed as just a cold, as I knew, nothing to do but keep his snot cleared and cold him and love him.  Thankfully his eating and sleeping schedules weren't disrupted much.  Thursday night, though, Natalee drooped.  Earache, emotional wreck, and finally, a vomiting episode.  Our poor girl.  Thursday night was long. 

Friday

Mike stayed home Friday because no one had slept the night before.  So thankful for paid sick days.  Luckily we soon realized Natalee was better.  Unfortunately, that afternoon Ameliya began to droop.

 This was the beginning of a long couple of days for her (and us).

Saturday

Mike attempted to finish the bathroom while I attempted to keep the family sane.  It was a hard balance.  Xavier's "house" - photo by Xavier.

Ameliya still was puny.  She had rounds of fever, constipation, and lethargy followed by periods of playfulness and smiles.  She never had an appetite though.  I was wishing I'd had her adjusted at the chiro, as I think it would have resolved the constipation issue.

And that was the week, folks.  Sunday was much the same as Saturday.  I did do a little something for the kids for Valentine's Day (a separate blog post).  Mike and the big kids went to church while I stayed home with the babies.  My mom sent lunch, so thankful.  Mike got the shower walls in.  Ameliya continued to be under the weather.  I called this morning and got her and Zayden in to the chiropractor and the change in Ameliya when she came home was remarkable. 

All weekend...

 Today...

Today is a new week.  We started it with painting.  It's going to be a GOOD week.  I can feel it!

James {Stryker} Anderson

I am a doer.  I like to organize.  Fix.  I call these my "talents" that are God given and I like to use them for His work.  I don't look for these opportunities, rather He sends them to me, if that makes any sense.  

Months back I became Facebook friends with a gal, Joni, who had a little boy 4 months younger than my Ameliya.  We actually only met once in person, but when her little boy, her little James Stryker, started having health issues God began pulling at my heartstrings.  I would look at my Ameliya, change her diaper, nurse her to sleep, stroke her baby face...and I would think of Stryker.  Stryker's one rare illness became two and he beat phenomenon after phenomenon.  I got the Wednesday night church kids involved in praying for him and raising money for his family.  Together with my pastor, we got the church involved.  Stryker became a part of our lives, and we because a part of his.  When Stryker turned one, we rejoiced.  

When he had set-backs, we wept.  We prayed.  We got creative and we got silly.  When God showed us another miracle, we laughed and shook our heads.   

Stryker became a household name in homes across Northeast Missouri, and then across America.  I can't thank Joni, and her husband Jesse, enough for allowing us to take Stryker's journey with them.  

When I got word Monday that Stryker had left his world of pain to walk with Jesus I retreated into a place of surrealness.  God had provided miracle after miracle for this child, and then gone ahead and taken him Home anyways?  And then I remembered...Stryker's life was not in vain.  His time spent here was not wasted.  Here are {some} of the things that Stryker did for us and people around us...

-he taught us how to pray

-he taught us how to believe in the power of prayer

-he taught us to slow down

-he taught us to enjoy the little things

-he taught us that there is joy to be found in all situations

-he brought people to know Jesus, to deepen their relationships with Him, to trust Him 

-he showed us what a miracle looks like

Stryker is a testament to the goodness of Jesus.  On Facebook he was referred to as ambassador, a diplomat, a missionary... (Steve Anderson).  Stryker lived with a purpose - his parents helped him carry that out.  

James Stryker Anderson

July 5, 2014 - February 8, 2016

{ James Stryker Anderson, 19 month old son of Jesse and Joni (Parish) Anderson of Lucerne, Missouri, left the suffering of this world to enjoy the eternal riches of our heavenly Father at 6:05 a.m. Monday, February 8, 2016 after a year long battle against two rare and baffling diseases living in a hospital for a chance at hope for a healthy life.

Stryker fought bravely and joyfully as the 1st infant reported with his condition, with the help of an amazing medical team at Kansas City Children's Mercy Hospital. He was supported by a dedicated team of Facebook followers, called Team Stryker and an army of prayer warriors. His short life was no measure of the immense impact he had on the world. He was an inspiration to thousands and led a multitude to a restored or deeper faith and deeper purpose.

Stryker loved music and dancing, interacting, sharing adorable smiles and "Stryker kisses". His love for his family was evident in every smile. Everything about Stryker was rare, Stryker himself a rare gift.

He is survived by his parents, Joni and Jesse Anderson of Lucerne, MO, a brother, Leighton Kempf, a sister, Alyssa Anderson, grandparents, Jeff and Joy Anderson of Hartford, MO, Pat Anderson of Kirksville, MO, Jim and Joy Parrish of Hurdland, MO, great-grandparents, Alvie and Donna Parrish of Novelty, MO, Lola and Howard Anderson of Lancaster, MO and Nancy West of Blue Springs, MO, as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Public visitation will be held Friday, February 12, 2016 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 13, 2016 at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, with interment following at Arni Memorial Cemetery in Lancaster, Missouri. }

Today I wore flannel for a hero and stood at a tiny graveside thinking tiny caskets shouldn't really even exist. I hugged a mom who walked through terrible times with more grace than I'll ever find in all my life.

I am a doer.  If there would have been an event I could have organized to have taken this all away for Stryker and his family, it would have been done in a heartbeat...we all would have.  I keep thinking that if earthly love could have saved Stryker he would have been saved a million times over...but then, in the end, love did save Stryker.  The most perfect kind of love to be found - the love of Jesus.  It is a blessed thing to know that this little boy runs the hills of heaven and, finally, as it should be, plays tractors in mounds of dirt and piles of sand.  As for us left behind - Team Stryker remains strong.  We'll take what we learned from the life a little boy lived and we'll use our lessons in the days, months, and years to come.  We'll teach them to our children, and they to their children...how to believe in prayer, to enjoy the little things, to cherish the moments...and, in this, Stryker's legacy will live on.

Stryker's life was too short but it was so full of purpose. We are honored, truly humbled, to be part of ‪#‎teamstryker‬, and we are forever changed.

Three Months Old {Zayden Samuel}

Such a sweet sweet boy.

He's battling a little cold, but you'd never know it by looking at him.  He still has his smile and chuckles, and his coos.  If I could just get him to hack up the snot in his throat he'd be fine.  (ha)  No fever, still eating, sleeping, and playing right on schedule.  I'm watching him closely to make sure it stays that way - sick babies are no joke - and praying it passes quickly.  Ameliya had a cold last week so I assume she shared with all her lovings. 

 Zayden is such a love.  He's charming and flirty and precious.

His hobbies include watching his brother and sisters play, snuggling with mommy and daddy, eating, and telling big windy stories.

 It's been a wonderful three months.  Hectic and trying at times, but such a beautiful time full of love.

{from last night} He's really starting to love his "lovey."  So cute how he falls asleep...

What a sugar.  He's so sweet when he's falling asleep.

We love you, Sammy man!  It's been a great 3 months!

Trained

Two weeks ago we started potty training Ameliya.  The first week was hard, the following weekend was better, and now she's trained.  Yep, all trained.  She makes me feel really good about our {parenting skilz} but, in reality, in true Ameliya fashion it was all her.  When she makes up her mind to do something she succeeds and she decided that she could do this.  She's even already transferred from taking her on a time schedule to her telling us every time she has to go.  She did a two hour car trip, out all day, and home with no accidents last Friday.  

Up until the last couple of nights I'd been putting her in a diaper for bed and she was waking up wet every morning.  I decided not to stress about this because she is so little.  A friend loaned me some thick cloth training pants so one night I used them instead (just because I'm cheap) and it was apparently the last piece to Ameliya's potty training puzzle.  In the middle of the night we heard her calling, "potty potty!  potty potty!"  Daddy got up and took her (thanks, honey!) and she went right back to bed.  Since then she's gotten up once in the middle of the night to go.  Daddy and I are working on remembering to just go in and take her before we go to bed to see if that helps us not have to get awakened by her call later in the night.  I can't tell you how proud I am of this little girl!  This was worth the four days of constant laundry, the one poop accident I had to clean up off the (hardwood) floor, and the piddled on area rug (I cleaned it but I'm going to need to borrow the shampooer again!).  

I'm still a little in awe at how quickly this became our "normal."  She's become so consistent and reliable with her pottying that I don't even worry about her.  I stored away the few disposable diapers we had left, the almost full package of disposable training pants I'd purchased, and sold all the girly cloth diapers.  All the remaining cloth diapers are snap sized for Zayden and, just like that, that's it.  Everyday I see a little more of her babyhood slip away.  Today she said "pway [with] me, tissy," asking her sissy to play with her.  As it turns out Natalee can no more say no to her than the rest of us can.  Ameliya, we're proud of you.  We'd be just as proud if you were still in diapers but we're so happy for you that you're not!  Congratulations, sweetheart.  As you'd say, "TA-DA!  I DID IT!"

Motorcycle Baby

Zayden was motorcycle themed on Thursday.  Sturgis undershirt, motorcycle long sleeves...he's such a cool dude.

I just love this sweet, yummy little boy.  

 

{lashes}