Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from the Crumly's!

So grateful we serve a RISEN king!!

The Throw Up Germs are still around

So on Wednesday I wrote a stunning piece of literature about the throw up germs.

And gave you some visuals you probably didn't want.

But I had some free time and thought...this is totally blog worthy.

But that's when I thought we were looking at a 24-48 hour stomach bug.

Y'all...Maddie had that thing until Saturday!  Saturday!

That is six days.  Six whole days of throw up germs...that came out both ends.

On Thursday, we took her to the doctor.  She had flat out refused any food or drink for three days, looked so pale and gaunt that I thought she was going to break, and started complaining of her neck and back hurting...and occasionally  her 'waist'.

Two kids in her class at preschool had been diagnosed with mono, Abby had had the flu recently, and well, I was afraid to google her symptoms because my mom tends to do that and look out, you've got cancer and ten days to live.  So instead, I made her a doctors appointment.  I had to go back to work -- I am planning a  major event that is one week from tomorrow and had several things that had to be done that couldn't be done from home. So when I called in the appointment, I explained that my mother in law would be bringing her but I wanted to go ahead and list all of the symptoms and things going on that she could have been exposed to just in case.

Once the doctor saw Maddie (and her obviously dehydrated body) and heard how long it had been going on, decided to run blood work.  He checked for Mono, Flu, UTI, checked her appendix...but came back with nothing.  Nothing but a nasty stomach bug.  He gave very clear instructions that she had to start drinking or eating or he would have to step in -- I am hoping that was more to scare her into drinking than the truth.  She finally started sipping things on Friday night and about mid day Saturday, had enough energy to say she wanted to get out of the house.  That girl is Crumly, what can I say.

Sunday, she woke up and declared she was all better and that her tummy needed some pancakes, STAT.  So that is just what she got.

And then an hour later, Cohen was hit with the Throw Up Germs.

Seriously.  Timeline is not exaggerated.

He is also running a steady high fever of about 103 that medicine is doing nothing for.  And he doesn't get the whole throw up / dry heaving thing so it freaks him out...which leaves me covered in whatever it is that comes up.  Luckily, his is mostly coming out the bottom which is easier to deal with in his case.  He slept on and off all day Sunday -- got two baths because there are some things that wet wipes can't handle -- and slept in the bed with me Sunday night.  I was not having another kid upchuck in the middle of the night and me not know about it.

He is absolutely pitiful...the fever adds a layer of...I don't know...something...that pulls at my heart.

I had to leave him with Deb this morning and it was so hard.  But I'm still so new at my job and a week away from a major event that I am the point person for so I just could not be off again.  Have I mentioned I am a week away from a major event I'm planning???  I know, I know.  But seriously y'all.  If I get this...I really need it to be after March 12th.  Just saying.

We are praying Cohen's doesn't last as long as Maddie's did.  He is following the same route and refuses any drink or food offered to him.  I did manage to get him to take a few sips of my drink last night...which was Milo's Tea.  I think it felt really good to him because he was burning up.  But it came right up with 20 minutes.

So round 2...here we go.  

The Throw Up Germs

We've been pretty lucky in our five years of parenting.

Especially, in terms of the stomach bug.

We always see it floating around in various circles and have managed to avoid it for the most part.

Both kids got it once earlier this year right around New Year's and before that, Maddie may have had it one or two times.  But in five years, I think that is pretty good.

We woke up to a mess on Tuesday morning.  Literally.

Maddie apparently woke up some time in the night, throwing up.  And then went back to sleep.  In it.

Gross.

And aren't we the worst parents ever?  We never heard her.

In my defense, I will say that Cohen is a terrible sleeper and I am usually up two to three times a night...every night.  And that particular night, after getting up twice with him, I made the decision to put him in the bed with us because I was so exhausted.  And I guess because he was with me, I slept harder than I normally do.

So when Jonathan went in to check on her before he left for work, he realized what happened and came and got me.  I woke her up to try to get her out of the mess.  She woke up and bless her little heart...looked so excited and exclaimed...."mommy, I finally stopped throwing up!".

Poor girl had it caked...yes caked...in her hair, on her face, up her arms...on her bed...on the floor...all over the one thousand stuffed animals that sleep on her bed.  It was everywhere.  After getting her cleaned up and settled on the couch, I started asking her what happened...if her tummy hurt...why didn't she come get me, etc.

She looked up at me with those gorgeous green eyes and said,

I just couldn't stop throwing up.  I think I need to get one of those MOMitor things Cohen has so you can hear me when I need you.

Yes.  Yes, that is the knife twisting in my heart.  You feel it too, huh?

Anyway, she had a rough morning...was fine all afternoon and evening and even through the night.  But then, this morning, as soon as something hit her stomach, it all came up.  So, she still has the 'throw up germs'.  She calls it that and yes, I think it's too cute.

So far the rest of us are okay but we shall see.

The good news is that all of her stuffed animals got put in the wash...first time for most of them.  I've lysol'ed everything within reach, did more laundry than I would like to in any given day -- I'm all about being productive.  Now, if someone could just tell me how to get the two massive stains out of our cheap carpet, all would be good.

So I've noticed a pattern

So I've noticed a pattern about myself and this blog.

I am truckin' along, blogging every little detail of our lives and then December hits.

Then life gets BUSY.  And the blog posts start trickling.

And then we have a big life event either late December or early January.

And then I scramble around trying to explain and catch up and get back on track.

Well, this year...I'm not going to do it.  I can't play catch up.  I will explain and attempt to get back on track but there is just no time to go back and catch you all up.

Trust that we had an incredible Christmas season. My kids were blessed...oh so blessed...by so many of our family.  We had Christmas gatherings galore.  The highlight was worshiping our savior at church.  Maddie came in to the service with us again this year and I practically balled the entire way through it...even the funny parts.  I am so undeserving of His love yet he loves me. I continue to be in awe.

So Christmas 2012 is in the books.

I also changed jobs.  Crazy, right?

After just a year at my previous employer, I was given an incredible opportunity to serve another nonprofit at a development director level.  I was not seeking this opportunity out but the door was opened.  And some things...well...you just don't pass up...no matter how scared you are.  So I did the unemployed thing for a few weeks and spent precious time with my family while things were being worked out.  I took a leap of faith and actually left my old job before an official offer came (trust me...it is a LONG story...but a story that should be told over coffee not the internet). I officially started my new position last Monday.  And although I realize I am still very much in the honeymoon phase, I truly love it.  I feel so good about this move.  I feel so at peace.  I feel challenged and really scared but oh so motivated too.  A very special person told me when I was opening up to him about some career struggles I (well, me and Jonathan both) seemed to be having...he told me that God was a God that opened doors...but that sometimes, although we don't understand it, we are left in the hallway...waiting.  And it's hard.  And we want to push through those doors.  But we don't.  We can't.  And we should praise Him...even in the hallway.

Y'all, let me just be completely honest here.  When he first told me that, I kind of looked at him like "what? what does that even mean?". But a few weeks later, things started happening. And a door was opened.  I got to step through it and out of the hallway.  And I totally got it.  I understood what he was saying.  You may be sitting there reading this right now saying "what? this girl has gone nuts." But sometimes when something clicks and touches your heart like his words did...like his prayers did...like his encouragement did...you just know.

So now, I'm telling you that I am breaking the pattern!  No more major life events in December and January, ok? :)

And I'm sorry I don't have oodles of pictures to share.  That fancy new camera I got for my birthday??  Yeah...haven't had a free minute in forever to sit down and figure out how to work it.  But here are a few pictures of the kids...just so you don't forget what they look like.  Love y'all!  Thanks for sticking with me!  I will pick back up soon!

Another year older

This past Saturday, I  turned 32 years old.  I'm in my thirties now and loving every minute of it.  

Except maybe the gray hair.  But that's nothing a little time at the salon can't fix.

I had a fabulous birthday weekend!  My family worked extra hard making sure I felt spoiled all weekend.

I have been known to get a little down in the dumps on my birthday.  Which is awful because we love birthdays in our house.  But I've had an uncle commit suicide on my birthday before and have another cousin who passed away whose birthday if two days before mine so...you know...it can be a little sad.

But not this year.  I really did have a great weekend!  

I had the Friday of my birthday off from work and got to spend the morning snuggling with Cohen and Maddie.  They are both recovering from the flu so although they typically don't like this daytime snuggling, they do when they are sick.  Sort of a win for me! :)

Then my fabulous mother in law called me and asked me if I could meet her after Cohen's nap at Best Buy.  She and my father in law, along with Daniel (my BIL) were buying me a new camera for my birthday!  Yippee!  Maybe you guys might start seeing some decent pictures again!  Once I figure out how to use it, of course.  

After we picked out a camera, we ran to the Galleria for lunch and I helped her finish a little Christmas shopping.  We drove home to pick up Jonathan and then went back to his parents for a birthday dinner.

Saturday (my actual birthday), we did not have any plans.  When we woke up, Jonathan suggested we eat a light breakfast and then just start getting ready.  He thought that we could put Cohen down for an early nap and then he would take me shopping and let me pick out an outfit or two for my birthday.  I sort of gave him a hard time about how he didn't plan anything, etc.  But little did I know that he was in on a plan.  Right around noon, Cohen was napping and me and Maddie were playing around with my new camera.  We had it set up on the tripod and kept practicing the self portraits...hilarious!  I should show you some of those outtakes.  Anyway, we hear a knock at the back door -- we weren't expecting anyone so Maddie thought it might be a stranger (her words).  When I opened the door, my mom, Kristy and Abby were there, with party hats and balloons and informed me they were kidnapping me and Maddie for a girls day!  I was genuinely surprised and really excited!

Jonathan, who was in on it, was keeping Cohen so I could enjoy lunch without a babbling baby.  I had to apologize to him for giving him such a hard time earlier about not having anything planned.  

So they took us to eat lunch at the Olive Garden and then to get manicures and pedicures.  Fun fun fun!  I didn't take my new camera -- I know, complete shame -- but I snagged a few pictures from my mom's facebook:)  Got to love our social media these days.  

After such a fun day, Jonathan and the kids took me shopping -- or attempted to.  Y'all always know that I like to keep it real here. So this is what really happened...

I wanted a dress that my friend Hayley had worn at our small group Christmas Party earlier in the week so we drove to Urban Outfitters -- a store I don't really shop in much...ever.  I found the dress in my typical size and Maddie and I went to the fitting room.  Where I preceded to get stuck...yes, stuck...in said dress.  Maddie had to help pull it off of me.  Talk about embarrassing!  They didn't have the next size up in stock and I didn't want to risk ordering it so I just decided to run into another one of my favorite stores.  Where Cohen decided he had had enough of not seeing me and anytime I got out of his sight, he started screaming at the top of his lungs.  No joke.

I told Jonathan it wasn't worth it and we could try again one night without the kids.  He compensated with taking me to eat at Mizu.  The kids love sitting at  the hibachi grill and I could eat my body weight in fried rice so it was a win for everyone.  Maddie insisted on telling everyone we saw that it was my birthday so of course they dropped their disco ball and brought me a platter of ice cream.  Fun fun!

And I want to just add that Facebook really adds to the birthday magic.  Seriously!  I felt so loved each time my phone buzzed with a new happy birthday message.  I know that it reminds people it's your birthday and all that but still.  I felt so loved all weekend!  

A big huge shout out to all my family and friends for making 32 a great birthday!

Small Group Christmas Party

Have I talked much about our small group here on the blog?

I can't remember.

And if not, it's really a shame.  Because these people...well, to be honest...I don't have enough words to tell you about how much they mean to me.

And y'all know I'm a little wordy.

The core group of us started a parenting small group a little over three years ago and we've slowly added more families and couples.  We've lost some over time too.  Schedules get busy, etc.  But for the most part, we've stuck together.

Each semester we study a new topic. Some semesters we end up being more fellowship and others we tackle a big subject.  Like this time. This semester we studied a Robert Morris book called the God I Never Knew.  The topic was the Holy Spirit.  Talk about heavy!  We loved it, we loved the conversations, the stories of our friends' background that we didn't know, the relationships that deepened.

Basically...I love my small group.  Period.

Our fall semester ended last week and we celebrated with a Dirty Christmas Party.  It's sort of becoming a tradition.  So so so fun.  My cheeks hurt from laughing so much.  I would share why but...I may have been sworn to secrecy!  :)

Here is a quick picture we took of the wives.  The husbands were already scattering talking football, football and more football.
L to R: Back Row: Alyssa, Katie, Catherine, Me, Hayley, Jenn
L to R: Front Row: Jessica, Laurie, Susan, Shannon

 And here are my lovely leopard print house shoes that I won at the party.

They've come in handy the last week as I've spent a lot of time in my PJ's taking care of these two with the flu!

But they seem to be on the mend.  I stayed well all week, even when it got the best of Jonathan too.  However, I woke up on Sunday feeling a little yucky so I'm hoping I can fight it off.

December is shaping up to be a great month!

*sorry for the poor quality of pictures -- all are taken from my very old, almost ancient iphone*

Decorating for Christmas

The day after Thanksgiving, lots of people are out shopping.

Me?

I'm pulling out the decorations and getting ready for Christmas!

Jonathan is a firm believer that every holiday gets its own time.  So in our house, we do not put up our Christmas tree until after Thanksgiving.  It's the day after, but still, it's after.

We wake up, eat breakfast, put on our santa hats and get to it.  I think I may have brushed my teeth but that was it. (In other words, please excuse they way we look in the pictures:))

Cohen did not like the Santa hat.  Granted that thing has been around since Maddie's first Christmas and was probably a little too tight on his head.

Maddie has been begging for weeks to put our tree up and I kept telling her, no, we wait until the day after Thanksgiving.  So every day for about a week, she would ask 'is it the day after Thanksgiving yet?'.

We bought a new tree this year!  Jonathan and I have had the same tree since our first Christmas as a married couple.  And it was a slimline tree (because our first house was so tiny it's all that would fit).  I've always loved it but this year, Maddie kept talking about all the 'rainbow' lights.  And our tree has white lights -- which have always been a staple for me.  But I caved and we bought a slighter taller and wider tree with 'rainbow' lights.  And I really do love it.  The colored lights have grown on me.  Watching the kids excitement over the decorations is contagious!

So while Jonathan was digging around in our attic, trying to find all of my storage bins, the kids and I tried to get the new tree our of the box.  But I made them start by taking a picture with me.  Cohen was so like 'woman! I'm ready to get in to stuff -- stop taking pictures!'.

 While I assembled the tree, Cohen made sure I got everything out of the box.

 And then, for a minute or two, I lost my great little helper Maddie who wanted to see about all this fun Cohen was having in the big box.  

Jonathan finally managed to get everything down from the attic and helped us fluff the tree.  I hate that part.  I can never get it to look as good as the store trees.  Can you?  Is there a secret that I don't know?

 

We finally got the tree put together and the ornaments added. Maddie did a lot of this so there is a spot or two that are pretty heavy on the ornaments.  She hasn't quite learned the art of evening things out.

 I tried to put all my breakable ornaments towards the top.  And then decided that the gorgeous silver and glass balls that I have just didn't need to be on the tree this year.  I bought a back of the cheap shatterproof balls at the store when we picked up the tree and used those instead.

Cohen is IN LOVE with our tree.  He constantly goes over to it and reaches out for the ornaments.

The phrase 'no touch' is on repeat around here.  

 Jonathan made us his famous hot chocolate -- well famous to us -- it's delicious...and we drank it out of our snowman mugs.  It officially feels like Christmas!

 And I just realized I didn't take a picture of all of our decorations!  Kristy and Randy came by late that afternoon and Randy (my youngest brother) helped us get our star up.  We just could not get it to stand the right way.  He figured it out!  So yes, the tree does have a star.  We also have these two trees on either side of the fireplace that we hang our Christmas cards on as we get them in the mail.  I just punch a little hole at the top and string some pretty ribbon to make the loop.  I've done this for years and it may be my favorite Christmas decoration in our house!  By Christmas Eve, the tree's are full of pictures of our friends and family.   So if you are wondering if people really like the Christmas cards  you rush to send out, know the answer is YES, we do!

We also have garland and more colored lights on our mantle, our Christmas countdown chalkboard on the bar, our tin snowman family on the table and other things scattered around.  We also have a big snowman door hanger this year that I picked up when I was working Christmas Village and I love it!

The only thing left to do is our outside lights.  When Jonathan got out our storage tubs out of the attic, he realized that our lights are not working this year so we have to replace them.  Boo!  But as soon as we do that, we will be all decked out.

Now, I'm ready to watch Elf and Christmas Vacation -- throw in some cheesy Hallmark channel movie about the town that saved Christmas or something similar and a couple of the ABC family Christmas movies and I'm a happy girl!  I love this time of year!

Thanksgiving 2012

I feel so late in posting this but really Thanksgiving was just last week.

But we are already in the midst of the holiday madness so I had to stop and think...was Thanksgiving really just last week?

We had an incredible day, very low key and calm, spending time with both of our families.

We woke up and had breakfast in front of the TV watching the Macy's Day Parade.  I LOVE having the parade on -- don't you?  Even if we aren't just sitting there watching it the entire time, just having it on feels good.

A lot of the old standard floats sparked lots of questions from Maddie.  She didn't have a clue who the smurf was or what a smurf even was.  She didn't know Snoopy and when I tried to explain that he was Charlie Brown's dog, she looked at me and said "who in the wicked world is Charlie Brown?".

Yes, I may have failed as a parent.  Better believe when Charlie Brown's Christmas came on the other night, I made us watch.  But really, she was pretty bored with it.

And by the way, I have no idea where she learned the phrase 'who in the wicked world' or 'what in the wicked world' but she uses it.  A lot.

And I don't correct her because, really, we do live in a wicked world.

Anyway, after the parade, we made our way to Mark and Deb's for lunch.  After lunch, we had a lazy afternoon and let the kids run and play outside.

Where I managed to snap this picture of them giving each other love.  Melt my heart.  Could not be more thankful to be blessed to have these two.

Cohen and Maddie did spend a lot of time in my lap...yes, both of them...at the same time.  Cohen is going through severe separation anxiety right now and Maddie just gets jealous.  But a lot of my day looked like this.  And I'm not complaining.  I'll take those snuggles anytime!

We then spent the evening at my parents house.  All of my siblings and our kids were there -- and it feels like it has been years since that has happened.  I may be exaggerating but seriously...it's been awhile.

And for the record, I have one sister, and two brothers.  And we each have two kids.  So it was loud and crazy.  But really, that's the only way the Chapman's can be. :)

**Often people don't realize I'm one of four because they say I only talk about my sister.  I don't mean to exclude my brothers.  But my sister is my BFF and we talk every single day so it's just natural that I see her a lot.**

I am so thankful for my little family.  I always joke with the kids that they are driving me to crazytown and some days I really do feel like that.  But my heart just explodes with love for them.  And it's a good thing I love their daddy because they are JUST like him! :)  

Fall Family Pictures 2012

I try to get our family pictures taken twice a year.  I just see how quickly the kids are changing and growing and I have this insane desire to capture it in pictures.

This can get expensive.  However, I have gotten really lucky and usually find someone who charges one flat rate for the session and digital images.  And I always get good pictures!

I know I change photographers each time but it's mainly because of price.  I swear, every time I use a photographer, the next time I contact them, their price has gone up.  Jonathan and I joke about it all the time.

Anyway, I found this girl through another local blog I read and contacted her via Facebook   It turns out that we live in the same town and less than a mile apart! She definitely had her work cut out for her.  First of all, she booked us for a 8am shoot.  And if you know the Crumly's even a little bit, you know that us and early mornings do not go over well.  So for us to all be up, bathed, clothed cutely and have smiles on our faces AND be at the shoot location all by 8am on a weekend...well, lets just say...it wasn't our best.

Cohen, who was nine months during our last photo shoot and not walking, was a pistol that morning.  He threw the fit of all fits, ran all over the place and would not even look in Haley's direction.  There was a lake behind us and all he wanted was to get to it.  But somehow, she still managed to get some shots of my sweet, although wild, little family.

I just ordered my Christmas cards so I won't tell you which ones I decided to use but here are a few...okay...lots of my favorites.  The full album is on Facebook.  


And, can we all agree...shouldn't Maddie be a catalog model or something?  This girl can not take a bad picture! She is so photogenic!  Her beauty takes my breath away sometimes.  Am I just biased or do you see it too??

Here you go!

Thanks to Haley for capturing my sweet family!  November, 2012  Maddie, 4 years & Cohen 17 months.

If you love these pictures and are looking for a photographer in the greater Birmingham area, consider Haley!  You can find her on Facebook or her website:  http://www.haleygraydonphotography.com/.  Tell her I sent you!