What I Thought was Right

It was two days before Christmas.  

I was leaving the dentist office.  

I had tears brimming in my eyes.  

And in that moment of weakness, I said aloud, "Why can't things just go right?" 

On all accounts I had felt that the past week or so of my life hadn't been going right.  I had just finished up one of the hardest weeks of teaching in my ten year career.  My school babies were sick, and despite how hard I tried to keep them safe, the sickness spread like wildfire.  If it wasn't the flu, it was the tummy bug, and if it wasn't the tummy bug, it was a yucky virus.  In fact, if you happened to see me during that last week of school, I had Sheriff Woody's expression on my face pretty much every second of the day.  

       

Yep.  I was worried and with good reason.  I just wanted all of my kiddos to have a healthy, happy Christmas at home.  I wanted my co-workers to feel well and enjoy their break.  I wanted to keep my family safe from germs.  I just wanted everything to be right, and when things happened differently, it was hard to wrap my mind around at first.  

You see....

My right didn't include the last words that I got to say to my students before Christmas break to be, "I think I have the flu.  I'm going to have to leave.  Don't worry, you'll still get to have your party.  I love you.  Merry Christmas."  

My right didn't include exposing my family to the flu on the day before Christmas break.

My right didn't include missing our annual Christmas get together with part of Jody's family.

My right didn't include my poor dad, who never gets sick, coming down with the flu and unknowingly exposing the boys to it.  

My right didn't include my sweet sister and her whole family getting sick.

My right didn't include canceling our Christmas Eve celebration with my parents, sister, and brother.  

My right didn't include stressing over finding a pharmacy that had Tamiflu for my babies.  

My right didn't include worrying about Rowan as he gagged and threw up his Tamiflu.

My right didn't involve a hurting permanent crown.

My right didn't involve a yucky sinus infection on top of the flu. 

My right didn't include worrying whether or not we'd get to have Christmas with my husband's family.

And then, on Christmas Eve, as my crown began to feel better, my antibiotics for my sinus infection started to kick in, and my boys kept their flu symptoms at bay, I realized something.

Maybe my right, wasn't right after all.

Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in the really crummy parts of life, and sadly, it's often easier than seeing the good.  Today I remembered that I am not alone.  I remembered that my life is apart of a plan, and though I may not always understand, it was created with the soul purpose of giving me hope and happiness.  

It could have been worse.  I could have gotten the flu much later in the week and not enjoyed watching my boys experience the magic of Christmas morning, but I will. I could have not been able to reschedule our Christmas get together with my family, but everyone is flexible and we will.  I could have continued to have a raging tooth ache, but I didn't.  I could have suffered more with my sinus infection, but I felt better.  I could have not found the Tamiflu for the boys, but I did.  

And those things.  Those things are the true right.  Those things are my God, keeping me safe, and loving me through the storm.  

This morning, the boys and I sat on a towel in the middle of the living room, watching Frosty the Snowman, and eating popsicles.  I said, "You know what boys?  God is good."

"Yep," said Jack.

"Uh-huh," said Rowan.

And that's what's right.            

Wilsons Rise Up

OK, OK....I know what you're thinking....

What is it with this crazy lady and all of her rampant blog posts??

I promise I try to keep it to a minimum, but somethings are just too cute not to write about, and well, this is one of them.  

This year the boys got to experience their first Trick or Treat!  First, they got to go to Jody's work and walk around, and then they went to the Square in Clarkesville.  It amazed me how quickly they picked up on grabbing their loot and stuffing it in their bag.  They were very protective of their goodies as well, even though all they'll really get out of it is a sucker or two.  It was more about the experience though, and boy did they have one.  

We decided long ago to go with the Falcon's theme (you know, back in August when all seemed right in the world and the Falcon's were going to have their best season ever).  We knew Target usually carried Matt Ryan jerseys, but we were happily surprised to find that they had Julio Jones jerseys as well.  When we went to check out, the nice teenager at the register asked us who was going to be Matt and who was going to be Julio.  At first, we just laughed and said, "Oh, we haven't decided yet."  But then we looked at each other, and in that single moment of silent communication, we knew.   

Jack would be Matt Ryan, and Rowan would be Julio Jones.

Hands-down. 

You see, Jody made me watch all six of the Falcons' Hard Knocks episodes (usually twice), and I learned quite a lot about this team of players who I love to cheer for, but wish could win.  

Jack is a total Matt Ryan quarterback.  He's calm (-ish, or at least compared to his brother), and he always likes to be accurate and precise in everything that he does.  He's also a bit of a leader, and he isn't afraid to boss Rowan around if need be.  Now Rowan, he is a Julio Jones wide-receiver all the way.  He likes to run fast, and he is always laughing at something.  Rowan can find humor in anything and everything, and you can't help but chuckle along with him. He also loves to play with and organize his flash cards, which is something that many of the Falcons players are good at, especially Julio.  OK, well, maybe not exactly flash cards.  More like Blackjack or some other game that I don't know the name of, but the point is they both like card games, and they're both good at it.

So, with all that being said, even though the Falcons are stinking it up this year, the boys' costumes were absolutely precious.  I'm so glad we chose them, and I'm proud of our little Julio and Matt.   

Our little Falcons

Holding their treat bags

One parent said as he was passing by, "Hey!  Put them in!  They can't do any worse!" 

See...running  :)

Daddy and Ro Ro

Daddy and Jack

And  last, but not least, our massive amount of candy!!!

  

Mama Moon

This week, we received one of the greatest blessings that we could ever imagine.

My grandma Simone, who is 90 years old, flew here all the way from Oregon so that she could meet her great-grandchildren Jack, Rowan, and Ellie for the first time.  It has been seven long years since my family was all together in Oregon. The last time she saw her great-grandson, Elijah, he was only three years old. We are so incredibly grateful to my aunt Louise and uncle Denny for flying Grandma out to see us.  We were supposed to go to Oregon this past summer, but Jody's Crohn's surgery happened later than we had planned, and then came my tonsils.  We thought we had missed out on a huge opportunity, so we were very thankful when we heard that Grandma was going to try and make it here.  

Our week together went by so incredibly fast, but it is a time that I will never forget.  The boys had a special name for Grandma:  Mama Moon.  Just as anyone else who has ever met my grandma, they loved her!  Every night and every morning, she was one of their first and last words of the day.  We all wished that Grandpa Don could have been here to share in this experience, but we all felt his love and spirit with us.  As Denny pointed out, Rowan gets his love of buttons and anything electronic from Grandpa Don, and this week Rowan was tinkering with anything and everything that he could get his hands on.  I'm quite sure that put a huge smile on Grandpa's face. 

Here are some of my favorite moments from our visit.

The whole family

 

Love my little family

 

Grandma was so happy to finally meet the boys.

 

First time meeting Mama Moon

 

Jack and his nightly reading buddy, Aunt Louise

 

Reading with cousin Elijah

 

Enjoying lunch with Grandma

 

Showing a book to Mama Moon, Aunt Diana, and Uncle Tim

 

Best Buds!  The boys' favorite new name--Uncle Denny!

 

Dancing to Grandpa's song

 

Jack and Ellie brushing their teeth at Grandma's.  We had lots of late nights over the past week, and it was worth every minute of it!

 

Goodbye kisses from Mama Moon

 

So, after this wonderful week, I'm desperately trying not to think about the fact that my sweet family is back on an airplane and flying home.  It hurts my heart to see them go!  We would love, love, love to make it to Oregon this summer, and this time, maybe we'll just make it happen. 

Sickness Times Two

When I woke up in the wee hours of Tuesday morning to the sound of a croupy cough (AKA:  seal bark), I knew that this week might not go as we had originally planned.  

I had no idea. . . .

Our poor little boys came down with a horrible virus that mimics the flu, and unfortunately, mommy came down with it, too.  Thankfully, Jody had to foresight to don a mask as soon as he heard the coughing.  While I slept with Jack across my chest in our bed, Jody and his mask slept safe and sound on the floor.  At the time, I understood that based on the amount of spittle that was coming my way, chances were I was probably going to come down with a little cold.  Nothing I couldn't handle, right? 

Ohhhhhhhh me........

Needless to say, our household has endured lots of throw-up, messy diapers, loud coughs, and snotty noses.  At one point, Jody was yelling for me to run and help him with Rowan's throw-up, before turning around and yelling for me to help him with Jack's throw-up.  Twinsies.  What can I say?  They do everything together and at the exact same time; just as it should be.  :)  

This morning the boys finally woke up without a fever, and although they are still snotty, they are on the mend.  I seem to be a day behind them symptom wise, so I'm hoping tomorrow is my day to feel much, much better.  Of course, that doesn't mean that they still aren't milking this sickness for all it's worth. Today I watched Jack and as he pulled Rowan's hair.  Rowan started to cry, and I asked Jack what happened.  His response?

"Ro Ro crying again."  Short pause.  "Sick."  

See, it was the sickness, Mommy.  Not me.  

Smart (or should I say sneaky) boys, even when they don't feel 100%.  

Mask to at least keep me from spreading it to Jody....two sleepy boys piled up on Mommy....early paci time....snot tissue in hand.....The Wilson's, everyone

NICU Reunion

Today the boys got to enjoy their second NICU Reunion.  It is always so much fun to see the nurses and fellow NICU kids.  It amazes me how much they've all grown, despite the difficult odds that they faced from birth.  Northeast GA Medical Center's NICU is amazing, and they always go above and beyond for those sweet babies and their parents.

The boys got to meet Bat Girl.  Of course they were both shy.  When we took this picture, Rowan was trying to deflect attention from himself by pointing at his brother and calling out, "Jack!  Jack!"  Meanwhile, Jack just fiddled with his zipper. 

We got to see our favorite NICU nurse, Alice!  She took good care of the boys at night, and she taught me and Jody how to take care of our little preemies. 

 

Rowan and Alice

 

The boys got to play in the jumpy house all by themselves.  They were so excited!

 

They even climbed the stairs to the slide.  It was a little hard for them, so one of the sweet, older girls helped them get up each time. 

 

Jack sliding down by himself

 

Rowan sliding down on his belly

 

The boys were so excited when the fire truck pulled up!  They were in the jumpy house, and as soon as they heard the sound of the truck backing up, they bolted!  The firemen were so nice, and they let the boys explore the inside.

 

Jack driving the fire truck

 

Rowan's turn--he also made sure to turn all of the heating/air knobs while he was in there (sorry, firemen)

 

Jack checking out the supplies

 

The police car was a big hit!

 

After hanging around it forever, we finally had to drag Rowan away.  He yelled, "Police car!  Police car!" all the way across the parking lot.  This was by far his favorite.  The policemen were joking that they always get out shined by the fire truck, but Rowan thought they were awesome! 

 

Rowan checking out the front seat of the police car....and helping himself to the nice policeman's hand sanitizer at the same time

 

Jack driving the police car, while Rowan digs around to see what other personal items he can find

 

If I were a little more tech savvy, I would rotate this picture for you, because it is one of my favorites.  This year, the NICU kids wore a name tag that displayed the week that they were born.  It was really neat to read everyone's tag and see how far each and every child had come.  As many of the nurses told us today, you'd never know that Jack and Rowan were preemies.  God is good, and it was such fun to celebrate our little ones' accomplishments! 

Photo Shoot Faves

Last month, the boys had their 2 year photo shoot with JTPhotograpy at Tower Mountain.  Jennifer always takes the best shots, and the boys always have a blast!  There are not many photographers who can take great pictures and get your kids excited about it at the same time.  It was hard to pick, but here are a few of my favorites!

Squeeze!

Cool Dudes

Best Buds

Love!

Running Free!

"I'm about to get up and run, Mrs. Jennifer, and I think it's so funny!"

Ro

Belly Laughs

Smartie

Cutie

Smooches

I am two!

Handsome