rose*art: January 2013

For the new year Franz did the polar plunge with two of his brothers. I stayed at Grandpa's with the little guys where it was nice and warm.We had a nice dinner at Franz's grandparents the Crawfords in the evening.

We we were able to have a nice dinner with friends the Parkers the following night. We were suppose to have dinner the next evening after that with the Runions. The night of the 2nd, I woke up to Clement sounding like he couldn't breathe. I ended up getting him up. He sweetly replied that he needed to go potty. So, I took him to the potty. While he sat on the potty not complaining at all but sounding awful, I gave him a banana to eat so that he could take children Ibuprofen with some water. Still he made no fuss. If he hadn't sound like a dying wheezing animal, you would not have realized he was so sick. He actually wanted to go back to his playpen to sleep. So I put him down and laid awake listening to his breathing. A half hour later when he called me I got up and took him out. I had him lie down beside me just so that I could sleep. He went right to sleep and slept late into the morning. Once he was up he didn't sound bad, so I am pretty confident he had croup.

The next day we left for my parents farm. Clement was fine during the day. But right before bed I gave him Ibuprofen and turned on a cool mister. I also rub some essential oils on his chest. He had no problems thank God! Cyprian also was thankfully spared, he had croup the last two years before. For what ever reason my little guys seem prone to croup.

I got to attend a Marian Catechesis that is based on Fr. Hardons work. It was at Sacred Heart Parrish in Cashton. My sister invited me, so I took advantage and left the boys with Franz at the farm, and had an hour of prayer time and some dinner afterwards while listening to some of what the group were working on in their workbooks. It sounded tough.

Saturday January 5th we attended a wedding of a friend in the Twin Cities. Cyprian was chasing the girls and dancing with them every chance he got. I danced some with my boys, even if I felt and looked like a cow. The whole evening was enjoyable, except the wait for dinner. I was starving by the time it was served. Thank goodness it was really good food!

Monday I stayed with Clement at the farm while Franz and Cyprian went to the Shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe. They also stopped in at the Catholic Times where Franz use to be staff writer to say hi to everyone.

Tuesday was packing time. We laden our van with spices, tea, cheese, meat, garlic, apple sauce, and beer. Besides all that we had Christmas gifts too. That evening we stopped in Madison WI to eat dinner and visit with my brother his wife and two little girls. We left there right around 7.

Franz drove through the night. In the morning we were on a look out for a McDonald that had a play place. Franz needed Wifi so he could do his online tutoring. I wanted the kids to be able to play, the weather was wet and dismal. We went through quite a few places before we finally found one with a play place. So the boys and I played while Franz worked. I insisted when we started out that I would drive. Franz was reluctant because I think he wanted to be able say he drove the whole way. It worked out well because I ended up driving through crazy rain and traffic to get home and I had slept a little during the night, thanks to being pregnant. Normally I would not be able to sleep in a car at all.

Once home we unpacked. The animals were all checked and taken care of. Then I made supper. We cleaned, and got the boys ready and in bed. We all slept...

Long horn cattle in Forth Worth with Sward

The next day we settled back into being at home. That evening late it was Thursday the 10th, Franz picked up his friend Sward who flew in from Milwaukee WI. In the morning the boys were quickly aware that we had a guest. We went to UD for mass and ate a picnic lunch I had packed. We stopped at Cistercian so Sward could see it. Later in the afternoon we went to the Stockyards in Fort Worth to watch the longhorn drive. We then took Sward to Town Talk a great discount store. Franz made us baked Heavenly Halibut fish for supper.

The boys quickly put Sward to work..

Baseball

Saturday morning we all loaded into the van. The boys dropped me off at a prenatal class. While I was in class they proceeded to the Cathedral downtown Dallas and the Farmers Market. Then Sward picked me up after going to visit an Art museum, while Franz was at home with napping kids. We played a great game of Scrabble, I won:') That night was a Packer game so we had another friend over and grilled some steaks that we had gotten from my parents. They were so good!

Sunday we went to mass. The boys played baseball. We walked Pepper to the park. Then Sward brought us out to eat at CT's Real Deal, where we had delicious ribs and side dishes. It was like eating soul food.

Cyprian with his homemade t-ball stand

Monday I cleaned the house while the boys played outside. We had Mr. Lindley Clement's godfather over for lunch. It was an enjoyable meal and the guys had a nice talk/discussion afterward. Sward and Mr. Lindley both had flights later so Franz had to leave to drop Sward off at the airport.

Franz just told me I need to stop writing everything and choose the best stuff to put down. Now he is saying I can't put this down because he is telling me this in February and this post is for January. Well, I can do as I please in my blog... I know I do write too much sometimes. But I have a hard time picking what to write about. I will be a bit more brief with the last half of the month.

So second half of January we settled back into being at home. It was a bit hard because the boys had become so accustomed to doing something and being around others. I also started working on phonics with Cyprian. I am not sure who is worse him or me. We'll just say that it is a great opportunity for both of us to grow in virtue.

Franz and the boys did the March for Life in Dallas. I would have too, but I had a prenatal class. I had my first in home visit from my midwife on the 18th as well.

On the 20th, I started digging up my garden. I through out the next week did all the digging of my garden, which I am very proud of the fact. I did have Franz fill my planters though so that I could start seeds of tomatoes, hot peppers, melons, spaghetti squash, and pickling cucumber.

I had two more visits with my midwife this month. I also got my first speeding ticket ever. The cop wasn't very nice. I am obviously very pregnant I had the two little guys in the back of the van. I was not the only person speeding, and quite frankly was going with the speed of traffic. I of course was the obedient one and pulled over. I don't know if it was my WI plates or he was just not very nice, but seriously I felt unjustifiably ticketed. I have asked for differed disposition, which means I will still have to pay the ticket but if they accept, I will not have the speeding ticket on my record. Ugh, the annoyance and worry. Just what I needed to spend more money....

Cyprian celebrated his birthday I already posted about it so that will suffice. We did however have his cake with our friends the Berquist on Thursday the 31st. We all watched Singing in the Rain and had a wonderful evening.