New picture of Jonah.

Here he is... his surgery went well on Thursday, and today he came off of the ventilator. I got to gchat tonight with Jamie and Kelly, and took the camera over so I could ooh and ahh over him. He is a very handsome little boy. Brie kept saying baby baby baby over and over after seeing him. I'm pretty sure she's already in love. ;-)

He is being weaned off of the morphine, he has had a few dosages today with little complications.

Continue to pray for him. He for sure is consuming my brain lately.

baby Jonah...

We welcomed handsome Jonah Mitchell Rye into the "family" on Tuesday morning at 5:39 am. Weighing in at 7 pounds 8 ounces and 21 inches long.

However they just found out that his esophagus is not attached to his stomach and therefore they are doing surgery as we speak to hopefully correct the problem. Please lift him, his daddy Jamie, and his mommy Kelly up to the Lord today.

Pray too, for his recovery, and the wonderful blessing it will be to bring him home.
We love you Rye family.


**** update - Surgery went well - the esophagus was long enough to attach the upper and lower pieces and they did not have to stretch anything. PTL!

Now he needs our prayers for the hole that is in his heart. Please continue to lift the family up.

You've Got Mail

Remember that scene in the movie You've got Mail - when Meg Ryan is sick and Tom Hanks comes over and there are tissues EVERYWHERE - and she can't stop sneezing - and the door bell rings and she stuffs all the tissues into her coat pockets and is just miserable...

Yup that's what I feel like our house looks like - although it's not THAT bad-

the girls and I are running terribly nasty colds- with coughs. I don't have the cough yet - but the girls have been going in waves - Brie's started Sunday - Sadie's started Wednesday - mine started Fridayish. Ugh - which means that it will be awhile before we're all over it - considering Brie's nose is still DRAINING.

We're laying low this morning and not going to church - bummer because I was on worship team this week - and I'm hoping that we're better by Wednesday. Because this is just too much to handle.

Oh and I forgot

I forgot to mention, for those of you who regularly follow our blog, you'll know that we got a new cat last fall - who's name was Banjo - then Clementine - then took "her" to get fixed and found it "she" was a "he" who became an "it" lol. And then was renamed Ranger.

Well Ranger found a new home 2 weeks ago, we found that he did not fit in very well with our cats, he bullied them to the point where they were constantly hiding, in fear of getting tackled, scratched, or hissed at. Cowboy lost a ton of weight and was not friendly, and Montana began nervously scratching her ears. So I searched on Craigslist and found someone who posted at the beginning of January looking for an ORANGE MALE with white paws. Ummm... DING... I emailed and then called them and they drove from over an hour away to come and check him out, and left with him in two.

We've decided we are a two cat household. That's it, two cats, nothing else - NADA, zip, zelch, nothing else.

Sickness

Well, the girls are sick. Brie has a cough (which surprisingly isn't all that bad), a clear runny nose, and what seems to me to possibly be a UTI. Poor thing. I took her into the doctor yesterday, and they wanted her to pee in a cup. She wouldn't do it, not that I blame her, I have trouble peeing in a cup at the doctor's office too. But it didn't help that the cup they wanted her to pee into was the same kind of fishy cups she also gets snacks in at church. HAHA. Oh my. I laughed, anyways, because of all of her symptoms, they are pretty convinced that she does have a UTI, poor thing.

They were both awake several times last night, Brie trying to go pee, and Sadie just crying. Brie's temperature at it's highest today has been 102.2. As Ben reminded me, this is one of the joys of being a mom. That comment was at about 1:00 this morning, right after I had fallen asleep and I wanted to just clobber him because I was so tired. Don't worry I didn't.

So today, I emailed into work, rescheduling for the end of the week. And the girls and I had a lounge day. Me being in sweats, and the girls in their jammies.

Brie of course had the adorably pathetic, stuffy nose whiny voice, and said Elmo, one to many times, so she got to watch Elmo three times today. And she layed on the couch - just layed there. Wanted to be covered up, given her blankie (which normally only is allowed in bed.), and her pacie (which is also olny allowed in bed). It was a sweet scene. One that only made my heart melt. She had an even more than usual abnormal appetite, she already doesn't eat very much, but REALLY didn't eat much today.

Sadie, was a super duper napper today. Sleeping from 9-11:30 this morning, and then 12:30ish/closer to 12:45-3:30. Her little nose has been running on one side, it switches back and forth, and she has 4 teeth pushing their way through on top. She toddled around the house, pausing every once in awhile to grin up and me, and remind me why I do LOVE being a mom, especially on crummy, yucky, jammie days. She's getting closer and closer to walking everyday. She stands now for several seconds and can raise herself slowly from a scrunch (it's really a crouch, I just like to use the word scrunch), she can also lower herself slowly from a standing position. I'm eager for her to walk, because what else can she get into at this point? She already loves to pull all the dirty cloth diapers out of the pail, the qtips out of the bathroom garbage, she's only slightly discovered the toilet paper roll, but has discovered how to open and close all the drawers and door on the upstairs bathroom vanity. Oy. This child keeps me on my toes.

Tonight after Ben came home for an early dinner and headed back to youth group, (which I am skipping tonight, to stay home with the sick kiddos) we watched Elmo for the 3rd and final time, I clipped coupons, and Sadie ate fisher price zoo animals, and then I gave the girls a relaxing bath.

Their CD player ka-put-ted last week. Sad, sad day. It was a CD player that Ben had given me in college, and it was ever so faithful for being only a $13 player. But it died. I almost want to hold it a funeral. Anyways...

So Ben found this little MP3 player at Dick's Sporting Goods Store that you use batteries for and then plug your ipod into. So that's what we've been using for bedtime. Which stinks because I've already been through about 4 AA batteries, and my rechargeables need to be replaced.

But tonight for their bath I put on one of my favorites, "Relaxing Classical" and then let them soak in the tub and relax. The music also helped me to relax and just take in the moment. Both girls took their turns grinning at me and smiling OH SO BIG, and got their hair washed, and smelled very nice when they came out. I lathered them up with one of my new favorite lotions - aveeno for baby - non-scented, and it makes their skin incredibly luxurious. In fact I think I might steal it for after one of my baths.

And then we read a great book called Snow Friends and they hopped into bed.

What a day- God teaches me so much on these days when I'm not dressed, showered, presentable, and yet I get to snuggle with my girls, work on cleaning MY own home, clip coupons, and take a day of rest. He teaches me to appreciate the little things, the small things that I do for our family, to make it work, to make it run, to make my husband smile, to make my girls GRIN up at me with the beautiful teeth. What a life I live, what joy I have right in front of me every day, I'm learning to appreciate it more and more as I take this Facebook Sabbatical. It's so good.

Week two

Well, it's week two, day 9 of the No Facebook Fast. Which I've had a few people tell me they've seen me on facebook - I'm guessing in the online portion. Well, I haven't been on facebook per-say - But I do click to become a fan through a separate link on a blog, in order to obtain a coupon. So the other day - it was to get a coupon for buy one get one free eggs. In which case I was on that specific site for a LONG time because they were having technical difficulties. So yes, I've been on facebook - but not for checking anything such as my inbox, my wall, my friends' walls, my friends' photos - all of which THESE were the time wasters for me, so I personally don't feel I've violated my NO FACEBOOK FEBRUARY.

Now onto my goals and how I'm doing:
My personal goals for this much needed fast are to:
1. Spend more time with my Savior: God has had a funny way of teaching me this - this week. That's all I'll say for now.
2. Spend more time with my spouse: We had our first date night since July - last Thursday night. Ben surprised me by taking me to my favorite, P.F. Changs - and the girls did great at the babysitters house: Aka. Nan. It was wonderful. And we also just sat together on the couch and watched some TV last night, just sat, no agenda, no children, no phone calls, just us.
3. Spend more time with my children, away from media of ANY sort: The TV has had a significant amount of time not racking up my electrical bills. However my ipod players- have had LOTS of usage, we've danced and sang all week long! It's been fantastic.
4. Finish getting my house weeded through and organized. Ben and I got through one of our linen closets, and through most of the cupboards in our laundry room (which if you've been in my house you know what a feat that is). Still to go: the bathrooms, the second linen closet, the kitchen, one of the shelves in the basement, the rest of the laundry room. And I'm sure I'm missing something, but we're doing really well.
5. Finally get all the gifts I haven't actually sent out - embarrasingly - haven't done this yet.
6. Post on this blog 2X a week and also start a new blog: haven't done this one yet.
7. Get into a routine that is manageable. - Getting better at this one.
8. Get through all my magazine stacks - nope not yet
9. Create a list of the sewing projects - this requires me going through all the rest of the laundry room first.
10. Relax. - I'm trying to do this, Ben has helped me a lot by giving me breaks from the girls, including a MUCH needed nap the other day.

I have high hopes for the rest of Feb.

Girls seem like they are beginning to get sick, I hope not.

yup it's been months...

Well I've realized that I LOVE LOVE LOVE to read other people's blogs - and follow them on facebook, and then I realized that other people are probably like me and like to read my blog, that I well haven't written on in oh 4 months now... oh man.

So a good - well I don't know what to call her - we went to college together - and yet didn't converse all that much in college - but now that we are "grown" and each have 2 kids - under 2.5 - we share more in common than most of my friends here in town and I do. - anyways - her name is Emili - and she and I share a passion for trying to size up our time on the dreaded facebook. It's not dreaded persay - it is just a huge time waster. For me I find myself, tuning out my children, tuning out my husband, tuning out my quiet time, both the time for me and the time for God, all for the sake of Facebook. What in the world am I thinking?! So she and I decided to start a facebook fast (I did a 4 week one last fall) and so we are both doing No Facebook February.

My personal goals for this much needed fast are to:
1. Spend more time with my Savior, who is desperately needing to hear more from me.
2. Spend more time with my spouse, including trying to work in some date nights (now that Sadie is more manageable)
3. Spend more time with my children, away from media of ANY sort. Except for music, both of my girls share my love of music, and so we sing and dance together ALL the time. But the television, the other horrible time waster, needs to be turned off much more often.
4. Finish getting my house weeded through and organized. I'm trying to simplify our family's life and weeding through stuff, junk, toys, dishes, books etc. will I believe help in this.
5. Finally get all the gifts I haven't actually sent out - sent. They are done, finished, just not sent. It's completely embarrassing.
6. Post on this blog 2X a week and also start a new blog, one not about our family, but more for me so I can have a place just to write.
7. Get into a routine that is manageable. Between diapers, dishes, laundry and the houses I work at, sometimes I am left feeling overwhelmed, which makes for one grouchy mama. So this month I hope to get into a weekly groove - that benefits our entire family. We have been doing great about planning meals and having dinner together at the same time every night.
8. Get through all my magazine stacks, (I like to rip out ideas and then they all go in the same file).
9. Create a list of the sewing projects I'd like to complete and assess fabric needs.
10. Relax.

There ya have it. There's my list. 10 things 28 days -

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Family update:
I suppose since this is our family's blog you probably want an update on the rest of the gang:

Well Ben continues to do amazing work at his job. Our senior pastor left in August, putting a bit more of a load on our associate pastor and on Ben and now we have an intentional interim pastor who is here for awhile. But meanwhile Ben has been plugging through some great details of the youth ministry getting together things in writing for parents and leaders to see. What he is turning out is some great stuff. I'm so proud of him.

Brie: Oh brie... as you know she turned 2 in October - hard to believe but yes. In fact in just 8 short days we will celebrate her being home with us for 2 years! YAY. It's been a busy couple of weeks for her. For starters, she now sleeps in a crib with the side off. Shocking, I know. I've been told by everyone who has two kids as close together as ours, to keep big baby in a crib for as long as possible. And reality is, I probably could have kept her in for awhile longer, but I chose to give her the bit of freedom because... She's POTTY TRAINING yes, and it's going fairly well. I'm still not brave enough to take her out in underwear. And Ben isn't quite brave enough to let her even run around the house in underwear. But we're on the road to diaper free and it's great. She also started Puggles in Awana on Wednesday nights (the group under Sparks) and last week came home with her first picture, complete with cotton balls. I wanted to cry - seriously. So it is proudly hanging on the fridge, and every once in awhile she points to it and tells me that it's the sun and the clouds. Oh sniff sniff, she's getting big. She loves to wear shoes and boots around the house, loves to put on chap-stick, and loves to sing and dance. Her speech is still not very clear, but for her age we're doing fine. Technically she was due about now, so for being "just 2" we're a-ok.

Sadie: We discovered had/has (not sure which at this point) a dairy allergy. Therefore I cut all dairy from my diet, with the exception of some cheese). She became a totally different baby. And then when she started crawling - she became even happier because she could maneuver where she wanted to go. Now she's standing on her own- and get's everywhere by scaling the walls - ok not really, but she does move around the house by walking along the walls, so it's only a matter of time before that first step comes. We try and get her to, but she's stubborn and won't do it yet. (wonder where she gets that from?!) She now is off all baby food, and on all table foods, drinking water and juice from a cup, and often times is found eating more than her two year old sister. She nurses 3-4 times a day, and usually wakes up around 6 for her first feeding, but then goes right back to sleep. For the wee bit of extra sleep, I am thankful. She loves to smile, and dance, and currently waves both "hi" and "bye", and signs "all done" and "more." I'm excited to see what her next stage will be like, because she is one cute, chunky little squirt.

Weights -- according to our home scale -- Brie currently weighs 20 pound 4 ounces and Sadie 16 pound 14 ounces. So a 3 pound 6 ounce difference - Yes they feel the same when there is one in each arm. We get a lot of - are they twins? Until they look closer... And yes I dress them alike quite often, it's one of my favorite things to do.

Well that's all for now - I must take advantage of them both napping and fit a shower in - ;-)