Day 49 - 7 weeks

Daddy made a cake for Joshua's 7 week birthday. Of course he made it after Oceana was asleep (we are slowly learning that sugar - past about 5pm - is a stupid idea. And Joshua certainly didn't eat any. But we did sing Happy Birthday. Ok, I sang Happy Birthday. But when you have a birthday part every week you sort of lose the luster for big shindigs. However, we will be having a birthday party when Bryce, Christina, and Miles visit - because it's more fun celebrating with people. My parents would love to have a birthday party too, but it seems they're always gone on Mondays. One of these days Mum... we'll pack all day and then party all night, ok? Or at least until 8pm...
That's the newest news. Matt and I have decided we're moving. To Tauranga. It's a city about an hour south of Waihi Beach. I've taken a job with Marine Reach Ministries (the ship's organization) as the Events Coordinator and writer/designer/organizer for Making Waves magazine. Matt's having a meeting (hopefully) this week with our director to discuss working for MRM full time. But it's difficult to work for an organization that is an hour away. Especially when we have a non-toll-call phone. Ick. So we're going to be looking at houses to rent this week - please pray that we find something in a good area, for a good price, and that everything goes smoothly in that respect.
We want this to be over and done with as soon as possible (moved in by April 1) because Mum and Dad are planning to rent this house out (since they're going to be travelling for 6 months this year). So this whole (5 bedroom) house has to be cleared, cleaned, and revamped for renting in the next 3 - 5 weeks. AK! And there's Joshua and Oceana to contend with.
So I've started packing. But I'm at that point that it's difficult to decide

1. What I need
2. What I want
3. What can be stored
4. What I can't touch because it's my mother's
5. If I want lots of furniture or a little furniture
6. If I want every kitchen appliance
7. What I can throw out/online auction/pack without repercussions from my mother's direction

Oh this is gonna be fun. And tonight I started working on my job (first time I've gotten a ToDo list - thanks Jo!) and I'm suddenly realizing how busy I'm gonna get.

Don't worry. I know this post is going to draw some "You should lay low! Don't do too much! You need to concentrate on Joshua!" comments. But seriously, we've been SITTING for 7 weeks (and longer, because we did it for the 5 weeks before he was born too) and it's getting to us. There's nothing like prolonged periods of apathy/induced laziness to make you feel like sinking your teeth into something! There's only so much time I can spend sitting around the house and dwelling on the situation. And if something happens with Joshua - our lives will go on hold again. We are prepared for that. Not so much prepared, as aware. We know it might happen. And we'll make the best decision for our family at that time - no matter what the situation is.

Ya'll are so cute when you worry about me/us. Haha. It's strange to me. I'm one of those self-proclaimed tough 'ole birds. Haha. I'm usually trying to hold it all together, make everything alright, nothing's gonna bother me - etc etc. But suddenly I'm getting (everyday) these comments about "You're just amazing Susie!", "What a wonderful Mom", etc...
Let me tell you. There's nothing quite like reading that stuff and thinking in my mind "What are they talking about?" or "If they'd only just seem me rail on my poor daughter for spilling her water." or "Are they joking?" or "I guess it's just an easy thing to say when you don't know what to say." But I do appreciate it. I'm realizing that maybe... just maybe... I am. You know how when you're about 13 years old and going through puberty you get comments about "You're such a beautiful young woman."? Ugh. I turned ninety-seven shades of red, bumbled and mumbled and managed to say something like, "Yah right!" because I couldn't take a compliment. The only reason I'm getting better at that is because I can say, "Uh. Thanks. I'm trying." Seriously - I think I say it between once and a dozen times a day. I still have that "Yah right!" reaction in my head - I've just trained my mouth to respond otherwise.

But thank you. I'm beginning (BEGINNING) to believe it. Haha. My house is still a mess. I'm still an iffy mom a lot of the time. I'm still a dog-yeller-atter. I'm still ... useless at taking compliments.

XO!

PS - Joshua's going for a weigh in a 1:30 tomorrow (7:30pm EST)!

4 weeks - 28 days

Here's what Joshua looks like today - on his 4th birthday. He's doing pretty good.
He does not like medicine though. Joshua rarely cries. In fact it's probably been ten days since I last heard him cry. When I tried to give him his medicine tonight he really like it. So I gave it to him a little quicker - too quick in fact! He choked a bit and let out a big cry. His cries startle me SO badly. I freaked. But I think it just pushed the syringe to fast.
The reason for the medicine (Flucloxacillin Erythromyacin) is that he's got an infection. The scab/open wound that was weeping was infected. It had a "heavy growth of Staphylococcus aureus". I'm sure you're not interested in what it was. But I'm always interested in that "actual" scenario - beyond Joshua's-on-antibiotics-because-it's-infected. That probably explains why when people ask me the situation with Joshua I end up explaining what a neural tube defect is, how it happens, and what can happen when there's an encephalocele. I guess I have an aversion to saying "He's got a birth defect".
Joshua, Oceana, and I went to a friend's house today, because Matt and Josiah were watching the Superbowl. They had to go to another friend's - so I went to my friend's and hung out. As I put it to Matt, "I don't want to be left home alone and outnumbered!". It made me realize that if Joshua stays with us and Matt gets a job - I will be home alone and outnumbered. Uhoh.
You can see all Joshua's acne - poor boy. His naked picture makes him look more filled out than he seems to be. He's still skinny. Wayyyyy skinny. But I think he's gaining still.