a bad day for the tongues

 yesterday was a day of adventure. my mom, aunt and i headed to pat's to pick up our kitchen chairs and console.  i was also hoping to drop off a couple little pieces for some painting.  if you need something painted, this is the place!  super cheap and run by ex-convicts.  they do NOT run on a time schedule and the organization level is at an all time low(we all know that's not a problem for me), but the people are neat and hard working!  i love supporting these kinds of businesses. 

this is pat's desk:)  what did i say about the organization?!

i returned to find the culligan man installing our water too far to the left(a huge first world problem: my clean and filtered water was not being installed where i wanted it!).  it was a mistake that could not be repaired and so i shall learn to live with it and learn to be flexible(i hate being flexible;)).  it was at this point that i was informed that asher had slipped in the bathroom and cut his tongue.  probably the reason that my poor baby kept waking up during his nap crying.  we hit him with some meds and he seemed to be fine.  

 you could see inside his tongue.  

a sweet friend popped over with her son and a delicious meal!  thank you!  a true highlight in our day:)  stew left for sleepless in san diego and then the fun really started.  my mom and aunt returned with isaac in arms, crying.  apparently he had been on his new pogo stick having a blast when he came down and bit his tongue.  i was still stuck on the culligan spout(like i said, i hate being flexible.) and didn't really think the tongue was too bad(i have boys and am getting way too used to cuts and blood).  i called stew and he said to give children's a call to check.  the nurse said if the gash was a 1/2" or bigger he would need to be seen.  she also said that if it needed stitches and we didn't get them, he would need a repair.  we do NOT NEED another repair on the books.  we measured and the gash was 1/2",  so off to children's we went!  my exhausted mom and sister watched the two younger boys while my aunt and i headed ventured back( let's remember earlier this year when ryder had to get his forehead glued back together.) to children's.   

i was scared to take isaac into the germ-fest(we are supposed to be avoiding all sickness until isaac's surgery) of the ER, but as soon as we checked in, they saw us.  NO WAITING(a small miracle if you know children's ER)!!!  it's a good thing because there was a kid in there who had been lifeless for 3 days, according to his mom.  the nurse looked and said it was on the line of going either way.  fortunately the doctor came in and said she wouldn't stitch it.  apparently they no longer stitch those size gashes unless they are down the center of the body of the tongue.  we were thrilled!!  she said that they now find that the tongue will often do a better job of healing on it's own.  we headed home, stopping for the much deserved ice cream.  

today we started the morning with popsicles and ice cream, but his tongue is already on the mend!  it looks like today is going to be a better day:)   

moving, moths and meltdowns

we have had a lot going on and most of it has been good or has the potential to be good.  my sister gave ryder a silk worm and that thing was clearly a survivor.  after much man handling, that thing still made a cocoon and even turned into a moth.  this is a small miracle for our family.  please remember the fish saga.  i am not sure i mentioned it, but the beta died too!

 we managed to pack up our condo and move 1/2 a mile, thanks to our families and friends.  if you know me, you know i am a huge acts of service person.  yes, gifts too, but the older i get, the more i receive love through acts of service.  fortunately i married a man who knows how to serve!  he was awesome as i was very limited on what i could do to help.  i kept telling him that i receive love through acts of service(as i added to my honey-do list daily).  i could go on and on with how loved i felt as we had family and friends pour in to watch our boys, help us load, clean, unpack and feed us. thank you!  that was no small feat!  if you haven't moved with three small children while 19 weeks pregnant, you haven't lived. ;)  hope to NEVER do that again!

 ryder graduated to a big boy bed!  he LOVES it and his new bedding(thanks auntie!).  

 isaac and ryder continue to share a room and probably will for the rest of their years with us.  i can't imagine them not together.  

 asher upgraded from a pack n play in stew's closet to a crib in his own room!!  let's hope he doesn't get used to it as he will have a baby brother to share that room with soon.

 we had sweet friends drop by our second night in the new place.  who doesn't love a friend coming by with beer and smiles.  thank you guys!

 the boys have had a few friends come to play and have loved showing off their "man cave" and backyard.  

 ryder has been busy bug hunting and exploring.  this child was born for the outdoors.  he is ready to head outside by 6 am each day!

 asher has had the hardest time adjusting.  the first few days he wandered around the house, crying.  he was constantly doing a role call, checking to see who was present.  we're(especially me and asher) not real good with change in the montgomery family, but we're all adjusting.

 gaga brought over his favorite car from her place.  that has proven to be a source of comfort as he drives all over.

 this character has also decided that he can feed himself.  don't even think of helping!  he has also mastered putting on a good pair of crocs.  he won't let me help, no matter how frustrated he gets.  

we found out yesterday that isaac will go in for his lip and nose repair on october 23rd.  as a mom, i have this false sense of control that is so hard to let go of!  if you think of us, please pray that we stay healthy and free of sickness.  isaac has to be totally well to keep his surgery appointment.  i am sure there will be plenty of tears from me as i prepare to send my sweet boy back into surgery.  i am hoping there's plenty of laughter to accompany the tears.  we'll keep you posted.  

for now, we are loving our new place!  i am so grateful we have the space and backyard as we enter into a tough couple of months.  thank you to all who have helped make this our reality!  we are so grateful!

fresh scoop

 bekah, over at Fresh Scoop, is hosting a giveaway of 8 hair ties from hair tied.  drop on over and leave a comment for a chance to make them yours.

  Entries are due by midnight on Friday, September 21st.  

even if you're not in need of hair ties, you will love her blog!  she is funny, honest and clever with her writing.  i think my favorite part of bekah's writing is her genuine heart for others and love for Jesus.  i hope you enjoy keeping up with her stories as much as i do. 

20 months!

asher, you are a total treat!  how are you already 20 months old?  i have to remind myself that you are not a baby anymore.  your vocabulary has taken off!  you don't hesitate to bark at the brothers to "come!"  you insist on joining in the fun with the big boys, riding bikes, running and even jumping on the bed.  i am not sure you know that you are a bit younger than your brothers because you throw a fit any time you aren't included in their fun.  

we recently realized that the change of moving is hard on you.  daddy cleaned out his closet that we call your "bedroom."  you cried hysterically when you looked around the closet and saw it empty.  boy will you be surprised when you see that you get your own crib(bye bye pack and play) and room (until your little brother is born)in our new place.  

i love that you are so full of energy and personality.  true, that you wear me out, but i love your spunk.  you make us laugh with your new found words and dance moves.  

daddy has officially become the new favorite (i knew it was too good to last!).  true to form in this family, by 19 months all the boys go to the "dark side" of wanting daddy over mommy.  daddy says it's a healthy thing.  i am sure it is.   

you have graduated to popcorn and movie nights!  it's my key to survival on the nights when daddy works late.  you still don't care much for the movie, but you LOVE popcorn!  you usually polish off a bowl and come running, asking for more.  it's no wonder you weighed in at 28lbs last week.  

i am excited to see you become a big brother.  you have such a fun loving personality that i am certain a new brother will add to your excitement(and my work load;)).  

i love being your mommy!  

first day of preschool/pre-k

 this past tuesday was the big boys' first day of preschool.  isaac has been in preschool for a couple of years, in hopes of helping his speech progress(and it has), but tuesday we were off to a new school.  i am always a little hesitant to put my kids in school at such a young age, but with much encouragement and with all their excitement, i am glad we did.  they will both be in school tuesday and thursday mornings, while asher and i spend a little time together. 

  ryder picked out his own outfit:)

 my aunt came down to watch asher so that we could take the boys to their first day without chasing this little guy.  it's really nice to be able to give isaac and ryder our undivided attention.  thank you auntie!

 asher was less than excited to be left behind. 

 yes, they were pretty excited!

 it's yellow week!  can you tell?

 we dropped ryder off first. 

 had a few minutes of play time.

 then off to isaac's class

 it was a very short first day(about an hour), but they managed to give the kids a tour of the school and introduce them to their new rooms.  ryder got to be the line leader on his class tour.  

a little elizabethan cupcake to celebrate the first day of school!

yesterday(thursday) was the first full day(picking up at noon).  i was a little sad as asher and i pulled away in our empty and quiet minivan.  i called stew to tell him that i felt like i was missing something or someone.  i am sure i will soon get used to the few hours of alone time with asher and the ability to race through target with one child.  

when i picked up the boys, they were both with friends, having a good time!  ryder's teacher pointed at ryder and said, "that one's a go getter!"  yes he is:)

looks like this mom will have to get used to the fact that kids do grow up.  everything inside me wants to protect them from the outside world and anything that might by painful or sad, but then what kind of kids would we be raising?  here's to hoping and praying that our boys make good choices when we aren't around.  i am praying they have a heart for those who need a friend, gentle words and kindness for others.  

happy birthday b!

last night we celebrated my sister and her 33 years of life.  i just want to point out that Jesus' 33rd year might not have been his best, or maybe it was, depending on how you look at it.  allison turns 33 on sunday!  our boys have many things they like about my sister, but i am pretty sure their favorite thing is that she doesn't follow all the rules.  they know if mommy says no, go to auntie.  ha!  she even lets them play with her ipad (we don't let our kids touch our computers- i know, how sad for them;)) and play on her iphone(i do not have a single game on my phone- yes, i am sure that sounds like cruelty;)).  as you can see, auntie is full of fun with electronics, ice cream runs and trips to the dollar store(she actually lets them buy things).  here's to auntie and the fun she brings to our family.  happy birthday b!  i love you!

just a little environmental health sign

you might think this little sign would keep us out of the pool.  nope.  i promise that i did talk to ron (the pool man that comes twice a week) and he said the chlorine levels were good and high(the gate is still broken), but that no one would be back out to take this sign down until next week.  it was hot and so in the crew went!

 our summer has been filled with days at the pool.  as we are preparing to move, i am sad to leave this daily ritual.  this summer has been filled with days of nausea for me, but the pool has proven to be a safe haven for our boys as i've parked my lazy booty on a chair under the umbrella.

paul was in town from washington and the boys were giddy to have another guy in the house.  can i say that paul might have been the most low maintenance human being to ever step foot in our little place?!  paul brought an old surfboard for our boys to play with in the pool.  thank you paul!  it was a treat to see you!

 isaac's pretty sure he's ready for paddle boarding(not sure I am ready to let him head out with daddy and friends yet).

and just to make sure we really soaked up the chlorine, we headed back the next day:)

this little guy loves to get out for a little towel time before jumping back in.