Jamie and I stayed up late last night getting ready for our Open House today. Our house is on the market. We have a great house but have an opportunity to move to a different street. We our torn. I love our home and yet I want someone else to see how great it is and want it, too. We thought the Lord was directing us to put our house on the market because the offer for another home was made to us when we were praying specifically about moving. However, I now wonder if we mistook the "signs" for God's hand when they were not of Him. I don't think I have done that before. Maybe I have and am learning to distinguish between His hand and coincidence. I have never believed in coincidence but just because events seem to be happening to work together does not mean they are of Him, I suppose.
The boys and I took off for Krispy Kreme once everyone was ready this morning while Jamie finished up with the house. We then stopped at Nana and Pops' house to get dressed. From there we headed to church and Jamie met us there. Our sermon was about a "blank slate" and giving all we have to God. Our pastor is pretty intense but I cannot argue with anything He says because it all stems straight from God's Word. He challenged us to be ready to die for the Lord. I have never wanted to die for the Lord because I love it here. That is an advantage in living a life where you constantly have to lean on Him - you begin to yearn for heaven and see your life is nothing without being lived completely for Him. I don't do that well, but at least I am desiring it. Dr. Platt challenged us to be ready to give up all our possessions for His glory. He reminded us that nowhere in scripture does God direct us to have buildings and mentioned several times putting our church up for sale. I would not be surprised if that happened soon.:)
We got home this afternoon, messed up the house because that is what Warren boys do these days, ate dinner, and took baths. We had some lessons in not strangling your brother or banging his head into the faucet in the tub. Jackson announced he found a bump on his body. Jamie decided to play doctor and had Jackson show him the spot. Jamie put on a headlamp to investigate and Jackson was scared. He kept screaming. Jonathan became very distressed that Jackson was upset and kept signing "finished." When Jamie concluded the "examination," Jonathan followed Jamie into our room and kept saying "Daddy hurt Jackson" and then would sign "finished." Once he was satisfied his message was received, he walked up to Jackson in bed. Jackson said, "I'm okay, Jonathan. Don't worry." Jonathan buried his head in Jackson's side and Jackson gave him a hug. Jono got in bed and Jamie lay down next to him. I heard Jono give a big sigh of relief and he quickly fell asleep. Often when Jonathan is highly upset, he gives up and falls asleep. He seems to absorb the emotions of those around him and is very empathetic (or is it sympathetic?).
I wish you could have seen Jamie examining Jackson. It was so awkward and funny. I kept having to bury my head and shake with laughter. The headlamp made it all the more hysterical. At one point, Jackson told me to quit laughing and I told him I was sorry (I didn't think he saw me:)). It was all so comical and crazy. Our life is wild and it is never boring!
Julie:)
thejuliewarren@gmail.com
Monday, January 10, 2011
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
First day back after the break...
We are supposed to send a baby picture of Jonathan to school tomorrow. My printer is not working well so I grabbed one out of his scrapbook. I took a moment to look at the pictures from when he was born and could not help but cry. We looked so shellshocked in the pictures and there was little Jono. He was hooked up to an oxygen saturation machine, had a canula in his nose, and had to stay under lights because he had jaundice. Rarely does much time pass when I don't relive that time. As the years have passed, it has become bittersweet. I am ashamed of how I felt yet so grateful he is here. I saw Jonathan's diagnosis as such an imposition and so unfair. I remember screaming under my breath at the Lord and shaking my fist at Him. I was furious after all "I had done for Him" that He would allow this to happen to our child. It is neat how God has worked in our hearts and how He continues to show up and work through us because we cannot do this on our own.
I see now how Jonathan didn't ask for his diagnosis and, frankly, didn't ask for us to be his parents. He is so much more patient than I am in is challenges and far more determined. He drives us nuts with his antics, but I realize without the DS, he would have been our wild kid anyway.:) Oh, how I love him. I wish I could go back in time and visit myself to share that with me (that sounds weird but you get it, right?).
This morning was the first day back to school. Jackson was excited but sad to see his break gone. Jonathan did not want to go. Jamie took him and I saw Jono signing, "Mama" through the window with tears rolling down his cheeks. I could not help but cry. Joel hung out and destroyed things while I attempted to clean and do laundry. He and I also played. I set up a new Geotrack configuration and he sat on it. Thanks.
Before the boys left, Jamie prayed over them, asking God to give them self-control. I also spoke to Jonathan about using the potty. I reminded him not to go in his pull up but in the potty. His teacher said he had a really good day and I was so relieved. Upon our return home, we took his pants off to continue his training. He received instructions not to soil furniture or rugs and promptly pooped in his potty. Later, with his pull up on, he went in his pants. I am not sure how to get him to make the change. Practice, I suppose. Prayer as well!
As I was cleaning up the kitchen tonight, I watched a little of the show "Parenthood." Each of the extended family was dealing with issues. One couple told their daughter about heaven so the child could reconcile her bird's death. Another set of parents met their daughter's boyfriend. He was of a different race, had not finished high school, lived on his own, was a recovering alcoholic, and yet was so impressive with how well he was doing considering all he had been through. Still, her parents felt uncomfortable with her dating him since she was only sixteen years old and forbade it. Of course, she saw him behind their backs. I watched these stories and realized that one day I may be wishing that my biggest problems are cleaning the eternally ransacked house, potty training, and not getting sleep. Lord, prepare me for what lies ahead!
Julie
thejuliewarren@gmail.com
Monday, January 03, 2011
Happy Birthday, Honey!
Jamie is a New Years' Baby. On Saturday, we celebrated by letting him sleep in, opening gifts, and just hanging out. That evening we were ordering out Mexican food from La Paz and Jamie's parents were coming with a homemade yellow cake with chocolate icing.
I had Christmas stuff piled in the foyer, all packed and ready to go in the attic. Joel had been pointing at the attic door and I pulled it down and let him see the inside of the attic. As I came down, Jamie thought I was hinting to put away our Christmas decorations. I wasn't but he suggested we get it over with anyway and I agreed. I would say this was about 5:30pm.
After we finished, it was about 5:50pm and Jamie's parents were due to arrive at 6pm. I walked into the kitchen to find evidence of Jonathan at work. On the counter was his methylin (liquid ritalin) and syringes. It was spilled on the counter, floor, and was all over the legs of his pants. I remember the pediatrician saying if ever too much was administered, this was no laughing matter.
We knew he had not imbibed but called Poison Control. They told us to report to the ER. I told the lady on the line that Jamie's party was in five minutes and what a bummer. She thought I was considering not going to the ER and urged me to go anyway. I told her I was going but just that this was typical.:)
I packed Jono up along with our DVD player and DVD's. Jamie packed me some food and off we went. This was good because Jamie has been the one to go in time's past and I needed the practice. You never know what this boy will do.
The doctor decided simply to watch Jonathan for four hours since he was doing so well after an hour and we suspected he had not had any of the meds. Jonathan happily watched videos while hooked up to monitors and gave me no problems whatsoever - that is, until, the lady who emptied the trash came in. He went ballistic and started crying. She had on a mask and gloves. He, as I have mentioned before, associates these things with shots and pain. I explained to her why he reacted the way he did and she ripped her mask off saying, "It's okay! See, it's just me!" That did not help. He did not calm down until she left.:)
Jonathan kept asking about Nana, Pops, eating, and Daddy's presents. I explained that he had made a poor choice by getting out his meds and that we would miss the whole party. I didn't want to guilt him but I wanted him to understand that there were consequences more than coming to the hospital.
We waited for the four hours and packed up at 10pm. Thank you, Children's Hospital, for being so good to us and for working on New Years' Day!
Jamie took the day off to run errands and work on work here at home. When I got home from working out, Jonathan was walking around with a PJ shirt but no pants. Jamie had the portable toilet out and said we were working on potty training today. Jonathan will go on demand but will never tell you he needs to go. He is getting to the point where he is either telling me right before or right after that he has dirtied his pull up, but that is the extent of it. Jamie has mentioned taking a week off from work to get the potty training done.:)
I told Jonathan he was not allowed to soil the furniture or floor - only the potty. I noticed him running to get on a pull up later and I said, "No pull ups. You need to use the potty." Next thing I know he is. I think he did four or five times. He went for a pull up again later and I issued the same command as before. He got on the potty again and pooped!!!!! I know this seems silly but the kid is FIVE YEARS OLD and we are still changing dirty diapers!!!
So, after today we can conclude that the kid can recognize when he needs to go. He simply doesn't mind walking around in a dirty diaper. Pray that we can help him complete this process! Jamie and I are tired of having our house smell like the zoo (I am NOT kidding). Even Joel, who is 18 (19 tomorrow) months old, will look at me right before filling his diaper and says, "Poop." The kid has seen too many poopy diapers.
Here are some pix... Enjoy!
It is never boring here, that is for sure. The boys go to school tomorrow and while it will be more calm, I am sure I will miss them.
I had Christmas stuff piled in the foyer, all packed and ready to go in the attic. Joel had been pointing at the attic door and I pulled it down and let him see the inside of the attic. As I came down, Jamie thought I was hinting to put away our Christmas decorations. I wasn't but he suggested we get it over with anyway and I agreed. I would say this was about 5:30pm.
After we finished, it was about 5:50pm and Jamie's parents were due to arrive at 6pm. I walked into the kitchen to find evidence of Jonathan at work. On the counter was his methylin (liquid ritalin) and syringes. It was spilled on the counter, floor, and was all over the legs of his pants. I remember the pediatrician saying if ever too much was administered, this was no laughing matter.
We knew he had not imbibed but called Poison Control. They told us to report to the ER. I told the lady on the line that Jamie's party was in five minutes and what a bummer. She thought I was considering not going to the ER and urged me to go anyway. I told her I was going but just that this was typical.:)
I packed Jono up along with our DVD player and DVD's. Jamie packed me some food and off we went. This was good because Jamie has been the one to go in time's past and I needed the practice. You never know what this boy will do.
The doctor decided simply to watch Jonathan for four hours since he was doing so well after an hour and we suspected he had not had any of the meds. Jonathan happily watched videos while hooked up to monitors and gave me no problems whatsoever - that is, until, the lady who emptied the trash came in. He went ballistic and started crying. She had on a mask and gloves. He, as I have mentioned before, associates these things with shots and pain. I explained to her why he reacted the way he did and she ripped her mask off saying, "It's okay! See, it's just me!" That did not help. He did not calm down until she left.:)
Jonathan kept asking about Nana, Pops, eating, and Daddy's presents. I explained that he had made a poor choice by getting out his meds and that we would miss the whole party. I didn't want to guilt him but I wanted him to understand that there were consequences more than coming to the hospital.
We waited for the four hours and packed up at 10pm. Thank you, Children's Hospital, for being so good to us and for working on New Years' Day!
Jamie took the day off to run errands and work on work here at home. When I got home from working out, Jonathan was walking around with a PJ shirt but no pants. Jamie had the portable toilet out and said we were working on potty training today. Jonathan will go on demand but will never tell you he needs to go. He is getting to the point where he is either telling me right before or right after that he has dirtied his pull up, but that is the extent of it. Jamie has mentioned taking a week off from work to get the potty training done.:)
I told Jonathan he was not allowed to soil the furniture or floor - only the potty. I noticed him running to get on a pull up later and I said, "No pull ups. You need to use the potty." Next thing I know he is. I think he did four or five times. He went for a pull up again later and I issued the same command as before. He got on the potty again and pooped!!!!! I know this seems silly but the kid is FIVE YEARS OLD and we are still changing dirty diapers!!!
So, after today we can conclude that the kid can recognize when he needs to go. He simply doesn't mind walking around in a dirty diaper. Pray that we can help him complete this process! Jamie and I are tired of having our house smell like the zoo (I am NOT kidding). Even Joel, who is 18 (19 tomorrow) months old, will look at me right before filling his diaper and says, "Poop." The kid has seen too many poopy diapers.
Here are some pix... Enjoy!
Jamie and his waffle maker. He loves Belgian waffles.
Joel likes to wear hats.
Jonathan has been here...
Jonathan and Joel "playing" next to each other.
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