One More

Jeremiah is 1!

What a fabulous day of celebrating!

We started the day with prayer and breakfast. Then had some fun in the water. Next we headed to the neighborhood park, with some sweet treats to follow!

A good nap to refuel and then we were off to have pizza and go on some rides at Chuck E Cheese!

Hallelujah for time to celebrate life!

We love you, Jeremiah Samuel Nelson Lavelanet!

Raising Boys

     What was God thinking when he created the heart of a boy - the heart of a man? What were His intentions? How did He fashion them to think and act and speak - to live?

     One thing is for sure: God made man in His own image. What that says to me is that boys are creative, intelligent, wise, hard-working, and loving. Of course there are many other things, but for the sake of time, I am keeping the list short - for now!

     I, of course, am a woman. Having a brother, I know somewhat of what the male character is like - of course in addition to having a dad and a husband. I was around male friends and male cousins. I have worked with male associates. There has never been a lack of being around males of all ages.

     What I am after in my understanding is how to raise them. How do these boys get from point A to point Z? How do I take them from the beginning and train them to get to the end of their lives? How do I show them the way? How do I teach them and discipline them? What do I include in their lives and what do I protect them from? These are only a few of the many questions that have brought me to this place of wanting to start a writing process AND including all of you in on the raw process.

     In addition to prayer and reading the Word of God, I will also be using a book by Dr. James Dobson called Bring Up Boys. Here is one excerpt from the book: "One of the scariest aspects of raising boys is their tendency to risk life and limb for no good reason...If a toddler can climb it, he will jump off it...He will eat anything but food and loves to play in the toilet...He gets great pleasure out of irritating - anyone!...They will take a chance if they think the danger is worth the risk..."

     Stay tuned for more to come...

     Be blessed and endure. Christ's return is nearing. May God give you all strength and grace to overcome - wisdom and discernment.
   

Infant Emergency: Part 4

     Just when you think you are finished...Urgh! Hallelujah for grace and mercy and endurance. On that note, here's a shout out to Jeremiah - such a trooper in the midst of all of the twists and turns of events.

     Sooooo, here's the next learning curve to having his laceration: a fungal rash on his butt! Until today (due to a doctors appointment - hallelujah for that timing), because of his wound, we had been keeping him out of the tub and simply cleaning his bottom with wipes as needed. Sure, we would clean him up if he was dirty and put lotion on him - just not the usual, daily bath. I had no idea such repercussions could come of him not bathing. Now I do.

     We now have, in addition to changing his bandages for his wound, a fungal cream to apply every time we change his diaper. The first couple applications stung him a little, but already after a day, the difference is noticeable.

     Important points that I came across in the process of trying to heal his rash (that at the time - over the past few days - I did not know it was fungal):

     1. DRYNESS IS A BABIES FRIEND. When a baby's bottom is not dry before applying a butt cream, it can do more harm than good because of locking in the moisture.

     2. A BATHED/WASHED BUTT IS A HAPPY BUTT. Not having Jeremiah in the water aided in his infection. Simply washing him at the sink while not getting his wound wet should have been the protocol.

     3. WIPES NEVER CAN REPLACE GOOD'OLE SOAP AND WATER. Baby wipes often can be the cause of a rash - instead of helping they will keep making things worse. Every baby has different skin, and sometimes even that is changing as their bodies change (teething is the most common source of those changes).

Moving With Children: Part 2

     I can actually say that it was almost yesterday that we moved! It was only less than three months ago that we moved, and now we are packing and preparing to move in a couple weeks.

     We knew, going into this past move, that it could be a short stay. With that possibility and a few other factors, we did not unpack everything - only what we needed. That said, there is not much to pack this time around. However, I am still packing and preparing in a very similar fashion.

     1. I am boxing up all remaining items and labeling the boxes for easy recognition.

     2. I am getting rid of a some things that we do not need to take with us (isn't that always the case with moving - you seem to lessen your load!).

     3. SOMETHING DIFFERENT: I will have boxes labeled and ready to be packed - with the items we will need until the last couple days - making sure that everything has a box to go into. (Last time, we had so many "crunch moments" when so many things were loose and clunky because they were looked over. The more things have a box to go into, the better.)

     4. I will make sure to pack for a hotel, style vacation - utilizing our suitcases for the essentials while we move and unpack. (Less pressure on all of us to need to empty boxes to find what we need to live.)

     5. As much as possible, I will have snacks and drinks available during the moving day. Also, I will be gracious with myself over the ease of eating out during the transition time - less time in the kitchen is sometimes easier because of all the other things being taken care of.

     6. I am giving myself time to get it all done. Starting now and slowly getting a couple boxes packed a day - in the midst of spending time with the boys and doing household chores and the daily grind - allows me and my family less of a stressful attitude.

     7. ULTIMATELY: Planning ahead is your friend!

Infant Emergency: Part 3

   

       Jeremiah's wound is healing quickly and beautifully - hallelujah. I have followed-up with the doctor's orders of changing the bandage daily - using a cleanser, reapplying ointment, and wrapping it well. The cleanser and ointment have not been the issue; the bandage staying on and away from Jerry's sight - that's been my concern! His curiosity gets the best of him when he can see the pad and tape. So my approach has been to keep him in pants at all times. Occasionally he has been in his diaper and t-shirt, but pretty much for all activities - eat, sleep, play - he has been in pants (these are the times I am thankful to have enough to last until I get to the laundry - hand-washing is also my friend during these time!). Another hard part for him has been not being able to get in the tub - he loves water! Soon, though, the wonders of water will be felt by this amazing little man.

Infant Emergency: Part 2

     Jeremiah is healing very well - Hallelujah. 

     The day following his accident, I received a call from the hospital. The nurse said they wanted to take another x-ray of Jeremiah's laceration. There was uncertainty whether or not he had a fracture in addition to the wound.

     After Edy returned from his day of work and we all ate a meal together, we headed back to the hospital. When the doctor removed the bandage, to clean up the wound before the x-ray, we were amazed at the progress. Hallelujah for God's protection and provision and healing.

     The x-rays were taken - Jeremiah enjoyed that part of the process, once again - all of the machines and lights and sounds left him astounded. We returned to our room and waited for the results. 

     A half an hour later, the results were back: no fracture. We breathed sighs of relief and thanksgiving.

     Here is an excerpt from Bringing Up Boys, by James Dobson, which I just started reading (good timing for this stretched mama!): "...families including one or more boys, the greatest challenge may be just keeping them alive through childhood and adolescence." 

      May God bless and keep you all!

Infant Emergency

     It happened so fast, yet I can replay it in slow motion. I see the spot it happened, and I cringe over how quickly the ceramic pot came crashing down around Jeremiah. As he held onto the rim - of which he had done countless times before - I reassured myself that he was fine, as I reached for a pick in my guitar bag. No sooner did I turn my eye that I then began seeing the pot coming down.

     As Jeremiah was passed to me, by a friend who was visiting, I began scanning him for injuries. I caught a sight of only one thing. At first I didn't think it was much, but then I looked closer and gasped. I immediately began praying as I walked into the kitchen to grab some paper towels. I proceeded upstairs to where I knew the first aid kit was. As the gauze pad was being unrolled and pressure was being applied, I kept my mind fixed upon God being my Helper. 

     I began pacing again and praying and holding back the tears.

     I called my mom, knowing that her nursing knowledge would be of great help. She instructed me in a way of bandaging the wound. As I began the process, I knew that I could potentially get nauseous and queasy, so I prepared myself. I did what I could and then as I went to make an adjustment, I began loosing my physical being. I was getting light-headed and needed to pass Jeremiah to my friend so that I could make it through enough to finish what I needed to, for his sake. Eventually, things got done, and I was back to holding Jeremiah. Not long after, he was down on the floor playing with some toys. I of course was still beside myself. There was so much in me that was shaken up...

     After finally speaking with Edy on the phone (he had been away on some important business), he rushed home and upon seeing the wound decided that the emergency room is where Jeremiah needed to be.

     We went to the closest emergency room we knew of and ended up leaving after 45 minutes. The doctor we saw recommended that we go to a pediatrician - someone who constantly is dealing with children - because of the need for stitches and wanting the best job done as possible. We agreed and drove another 20 minutes. By this time, Jeremiah had fallen asleep (before leaving the other hospital, they did clean up his wound). 

     When we finally were seen by the pediatrician on duty, his initial assessment was that there was no need for stitches and that he would simply clean it, numb the area, administer Children's Motrin, cut off the remaining skin, and take an x-ray. 

     As much as that was a relief, there was still so much ache in our hearts - Edy and me. To watch your child experience pain is terrible. To have all of the thoughts run through your mind as to what you could have done differently...horrible. I wrestled with guilt and sadness, shame and fear. My heart was trembling and all I wanted to do was to go back and rescue Jeremiah from ever going near the ceramic pot.

     Oh to be shaken up by the unexpected...Through it all, Jeremiah did wonderfully. Isaiah, as well, was a trooper. Edy and myself were a wreck, but by God's grace we sustained and rose above our emotions.

     Hallelujah for God's protection and providence. Hallelujah for God's help and strength. Hallelujah for the quick healing and reassurance over Jeremiah. Hallelujah for all the ways God brought us through.