Energy vs. No Energy

Life before two kids...

... life WITH two kids!

Bath Time

Wyatt loves this orange soft golf ball!

Music Time

Here's a video of their drumming escapade!

Drummer Boys

At preschool, Wyatt gets to play with musical instruments every now and then. He loves telling how he played the sticks, the drums, or even the bell! I pulled out a few of my tupperware bowls and sturdy mixing spoons for him to pretend with and he loves it! Since Garett is sitting up on his own now, he joined in on the fun! Two boys, two bowls, spoons flying everywhere, noise galore... I LOVE IT!!!! :)

As you can tell by Sadie's face, she's tolerating the noise and chaos! Dirt, on the other hand, got the heck out of Dodge! I think he found the farthest point possible away from us. Oh, Dirty!!!

Blood Tests

After learning about my dad's recent diagnosis of Factor V Lieden (a blood disorder dealing with clotting), I went for testing as it is genetic. They took quite a bit of blood and it left a HUGE bruise on my arm. They had to send out the blood for testing so it took a few weeks. But I just got word from my doc this week that all of the tests were normal!!! Yay! This means that I don't have to test the boys and I don't have to deal with the whole birth control issue since blood clots can occur while on birth control and this disorder would heighten my chances of that occurring. So need to rush Jake in for "the procedure"! We can keep our window of baby thinking open for a few more years! :)

Tastefully Simple... or is it???

Recently, my mom began selling Tastefully Simple products. I love the foods and drinks. They are tasty and really quite simple... IF you follow directions! And that's a BIG if!

Last night, I made the Creamy Wild Rice soup and added in a can of chicken. Directions were simple: add dry mix to five cups hot water. Stir, simmer, serve! Well, I got right to work, adding in water, heating it all together, and simmering it. The flavors were infusing, the aroma was tantalizing. The soup looked appetizing!

I served the family their bowls of soup with Bisquik biscuits (not enough time for Bountiful Beer bread!) and salad. I'm enjoying my soup thinking if Jake likes it I'll order and make it again. All of a sudden, Jake starts looking around with a curious look in his eye -- the wheels were turning. Usually this means he's going to spice something up somehow. Instead he asks me what all I put in it. I said water. He asked how much while pulling the box out of the trash. I replied with five cups, like the directions. He goes on to say how it's a little watered down for his taste considering it's called CREAMY! All of a sudden, embarrassment sets in. In my haste to get the soup going, I had pulled my plastic liquid measuring cup out mistaking it for my small glass one which happens to be 1 cup. The plastic one... two cups! DID NOT EVEN PHASE ME earlier! I had made this "creamy" soup with double the amount of water!!!!!!!

Jake came to the rescue and began boiling it (even though the recipe said not to) and the extra water boiled out of it. The soup began to look creamy! He said it was quite good after that. I admitted how I had thought earlier it was good enough for me! My taste buds are obviously not as snobby as his!!! :)

In the end, Tastefully Simple can be just that... tasteful and simple. But Jake informed me he is NOWHERE NEAR the end of teasing me about it! I guess simple and tasty is in the eye (or taste bud) of the eater!

Everything Comes in Three

You might think I'm superstitious but I believe that bad things come in three. Too many times it's come true for me and the family. Recently, my dad was diagnosed with a blood disease (Factor V Lieden, I believe) and the specialists are still looking into a nerve issue as well. Well, the blood disorder could possibly have been passed on to us kids. Thanks papa-dukes! :) I had my blood drawn (which left an awful bruise for awhile) and I think Justin will be doing his soon too. My results won't be back for another week or so. Depending on what they are will determine what I do with birth control -- it's a clotting issue and birth control increases the risks of clotting. Also, the boys would be tested to see if it passed on to them. My dad will be on some meds to help him with clotting for the rest of his life but I'll take that over a stroke.

That's #1. #2, my Grandma Lourens went on a trip to Brownsville, TX with my mom to visit her Aunt Fay. While down there, Grandma had some issues and was admitted to the hospital the second day of her trip. Turns out, Grandma had ulcers and hernias (I think that's what it is-- her stomach is going up through her abdomen which is not good). She was medavac'ed back to Iowa -- my mom was the co-pilot on the little plane -- and is now at Mercy in Des Moines. I'm waiting to hear from mom about the recent upper GI test they did today.

#3... well, I first thought number 3 was my great Uncle Doug passing -- my dad's dad's brother, the last of the Wheeler boys. But dad said he was older, had Parkinson's, so folks knew the time was coming I suppose. Turns out, I'm giving #3 to Garett: pneumonia! He had a bit of a temp on Saturday night, Sunday wasn't doing too much better, and by Sunday night, he had a 104.1 rectal temp. Dr. Faught said to take him in to the ER. He was given more Tylenol, some chest x-rays, and pedialyte. Little guy had some pneumonia starting in his right middle lobe (lung). Good thing we took him in when we did the doc told us... well, me. Jake stayed with Wyatt at home so the ER visit was manageable. Monday I had off for inservices (they don't like paying subs to learn I guess) so the boys and I cuddled and played a lot. Garett is doing sooooo much better and, yes mom, he is getting his antibiotics as prescribed! :) He's smiling again and is his playful, hungry self!!

Adapting to the Temperature

So Wyatt has shown us how smart he is -- if he gets cold in the middle of the night, he will wake up and put on more clothes. Now, don't worry folks, we don't freeze out our child. Our thermostat is set at a warm 70 but it's his fan that tends to cool off his room. When you sleep near the floor like he does, the air makes you a bit colder especially after the warm covers have been kicked off. Wyatt has a night light in his room to help him feel safer in the dark (he freaks if it is ever completely dark in his room) but he still finds a way to get the extra layers a bit mixed up! :)

Don't worry... our tax refund is going towards a nice bedroom set for Wyatt! We think he's ready for it now.

Our Super Nub!

Wyatt showed us one evening how he can transform to the Amazing Nub, the next big super hero! It was so hilarious, Jake and I laughed forever before I could finally make it to get the camera. Such a funny, imaginative little man!!!

Cardinals Fan

Here is our new Cardinals fan!! Garett looks pretty cute in mommy's hat! We'll work on getting him his own... Wyatt needs his own, too (hint, hint Gramma and Papa Wheeler). :)

Green Thumb

I never thought I could keep a plant alive considering the first plant I ever had in college did not last long so my mom bought me a fake one! But I grew a tiny pot of chives (I think!) and they are still thriving!!

Captain Barnoski Visits Lakewood

Prior to the military working dog demonstration, Jake came to my school (at the time) to share about his military experience and job as a veterinarian. It was lots of fun. Some of the kids asked some pretty interesting questions (not always intriguing... I said interesting) For example: Have you killed any Japanese or Germans? (WHAT?!?!?) But there were some other good questions that impressed us teachers with the students' thinking.

Wyatt came for the talk but did more climbing on the rock wall than listening to daddy!

Military Working Dog Demonstration

While I was teaching second grade at Lakewood from December-January, I organized a military working dog demonstration shortly after Jake's visit to the school. The students loved meeting Luigi, a seven year old German Sheperd who has work on the brain!!! To help the show, another teacher and I offered our bodies as chew toys for Luigi! :)

Wow... Where Have We Been?

Let's just say life has been b-u-s-y!!! But it's been great, full of adventures, and lots of fun! So I know these posts are going to be backwards, but I will be putting up a couple different posts of recent activities in the Barnoski family. As for a quick run-down (from youngest to oldest):
Garett:
-bottom right front tooth coming in (causing a bit of discomfort for the drooling little man)
-rolling over
-sitting up
-starting to rock on his knees -- is crawling around the corner??
-sleeping so well at night, mommy is so grateful
-loves his big brother, stares at him often with a big cheeseburger, toothless smile
-giggles a TON!
-6 month stats: 28 1/2 inches long (a little over an inch longer than Wyatt at this time), 18.6 lbs (a tad bigger than Wyatt again).
-eating fruits and veggies like a stud (well, most of the time -- he will spit some of them out just to get daddy upset)
Wyatt:
-reminds us at every meal to pray together!! Maybe he'll grow up to be a pastor!
-sings more tunes than just Twinkle, Twinkle and Frere Jacques
-counts pretty well to ten (sometimes skips a number but pretty close)
-has an amazing imagination
-loves to play outside after dinner with mommy and daddy (usually Garett is taking his evening cat nap)
-loves to play instruments and musical chairs at school
-still goes to time out quite often at school!! :)
-has a best friend at school named Wyatt A. (who is easily a head shorter than him)
-is growing like a weed -- can't keep up with the pant length
-loves his sweets -- mommy will take full responsibility for that one
-is a great cuddler and a wonderful little man
Anna:
-working at the third grade level now for a few more weeks
-is being challenged daily with students' behaviors and attitudes
-challenged daily with adults who create crutches for these students and motivate these students extrinsically, hoping to get them to perform at the level they SHOULD work at, not pushing them to meet higher expectations (I don't get it!!!!!!!)
-loves evening times with the family
-is enjoying meeting new friends at school and through the military
-made it on a 12-mile ruck march with Jake last weekend (felt like a geezer afterwards but I made it!) Did I mention we did it in UNDER three hours?!? Rock on!
-will have my masters in a few months
-is about to cut the hair off!
Jake:
-excelling at his position in the Army
-making a difference with his soldiers (especially by setting an example through healthy eating and strong PT performances)
-treats his wife like a queen especially after she has a rough day
-is working hard at convincing MWR on post to bring Roger Clyne for a concert at Fort Benning
-is the Tickle King of our family!!!