Welcome "mommy cards" friends

I'm giving out my personal business cards (aka "mommy cards") with this blog address, so I thought I'd better update my blog and let you know you have come to the right place! Jackson tore most of the keys off of my keyboard this morning so this will be a very short post (the touch-pads under the keys still work but I have to remember which key is which, and I never learned to type the right way, so hunt and peck is really hard with no keys!). Purchasing a new keyboard will be a priority today!!

I did it!

I am so excited. I actually made it through my first night on my own, since Ron went back to work last night. Not only that, but I got all 4 of us dressed, fed, and out the door on time, with all necessary backpacks, school papers, lunches, and diaper bags! I even got a shower, and Jackson a bath (a necessity thanks to another playing-in-his-poop episode this morning).

Lainey was dropped off at preschool and Jackson at Mother's Day Out, both on time. Then I ran a quick errand with John Robert, came home to take care of a few things online and feed John Robert, and now we're off to run another errand or 2. I jut felt the need to brag on myself a little; it's amazing what a small accomplishment becomes a big deal with "3 kids 4 and under and only 2 hands"!!

I must admit, I almost forgot John Robert. Lainey and Jackson and all their stuff were loaded in the van, and I was sitting i the driver's seat to put the key in, when Lainey reminded me that we didn't have John Robert yet. I hope I wouldn't have actually left without him!! Thank goodness for big sis!!

John Robert Wayne Sisson

He's here! John Robert, as we call him, arrived 9:49 Tuesday August 26, weighing 8 lbs 2 ozs, 19 inches long. He is the smallest of our 3; Lainey and Jackson weighed 8-4 and 8-15. He was also a very easy delivery: 1 and 1/2 pushes! God is good! Big sister Lainey is delighted, especially with the tiny finges, toes, ears, and more. Big brother Jackson is indifferent at times, then suddenly begins his mantra of "Baby! Bubby! Bobby!" (the pronunciation varies) while pointing at his wee little brother and wanting to pat much harder than he should, but at least he's enthusiastic!

Tomorrow is THE DAY

Well, unless he decides to come in the next 4 hours, before the clock strikes midnight. Otherwise, baby #3 is going to be induced tomorrow morning at 4 am. As you might imagine, our house is a flurry of last-minute activity, and I'm trying to get in bed early! My brother is already here, my parents are on their way, and I know many other family members are here in spirit if they can't be here physically. I covet your prayers for a quick and easy delivery and a healthy baby! On a side note, I took the kids to the doctor this morning, originally planned only as Lainey's well-child check-up and to make sure she's up-to-date on shots for pre-school, only to find out that the rash on her face and arms is Fifths Disease (did I spell that right?) and Jackson has an ear infection. When it rains, it pours!!

Lainey's New 'Do

A few quick photos so Grandma and Grandpa can see the new hair-do while galavanting around Europe. Lainey and I both cut our hair off for "Lots of Love" as Lainey puts it, meaning "Locks of Love," although we actually ended up going with Pantene's program because they need only 8 inches instead of 10. Our ponytails will be made into wigs and distributed free-of-charge through the American Cancer Society to chemo patients.

My Song

Before improvising lullabies for my children, I had written only 2 songs in my life: both during my early teen years, neither very impressive. One was about Christ's incomprehensible sacrifice, and the other about pondering as a child (although I thought I was so mature at the time), whom I would marry. The lyrics have evolved over the years as I met that man, married him, and had my first child with him, to whom I sang her verse of the song. For the first time at bedtime tonight, during what seemed like endless rocking and singing to our fitful second child, our oldest son, I thought to sing him his verse.

(The original song, as I sung it as a child, also recorded and played at my wedding as the flower girls walked down the aisle):
Sometimes I wonder, what he is like,
The man that I will marry and cherish all my life.
Often I wonder, "What is his name?"
Sometimes I wonder if he asks the Lord the same.
Whether he is handsome, or kind or brave or strong,
I know that forever my heart to him belongs.
And Lord I know that he must be
Above all else, eternally
Committed to You first and then to me.

(As sung to Lainey, our oldest, since birth):
Sometimes I wonder, what he is like,
The man that you will marry and cherish all your life.
Often I wonder, "What is his name?"
Someday I know, he'll ask about you the same.
Whether he is handsome, or kind or brave or strong,
I know that forever your heart to him belongs.
And Lord I ask that he might be
Above all else, eternally
Committed to You first and then to Lainey.

(As sung to Jackson, our second, for the first time tonight):
Sometimes I wonder, what she is like,
The girl that you will marry and cherish all your life.
Often I wonder, "What is her name?"
Someday I know she'll ask about you the same.
Whether she is pretty, or has the gift of song,
I know that forever your heart to her belongs.
And Lord I ask that she might be
Above all else, eternally
Committed to You first and then to Jackson.

(As sung to our third, a yet-unnamed son still in the womb, also for the first time tonight):
Sometimes I wonder, what she is like,
The girl that you will marry and cherish all your life.
Often I wonder, "What is her name?"
Someday I know she'll ask about you the same.
Whether she is pretty, or has the gift of song,
I know that forever your heart to her belongs.
And Lord I ask that she might be
Above all else, eternally
Committed to You first and then to him.

Lord, I do not know if my children will marry, but if they do, I pray that each will find a companion to accompany and encourage for the rest of their life, always on the path to You.

Jackson the Ripper, Part 2

The little man's teeth continued to wreak havoc on many household items since my last blog post on the topic. I had been sad that he weaned earlier than Lainey, but at the moment I am very glad he is not still breast-feeding!!!

* One morning Lainey and I went in to see him in his crib after hearing the sweet sounds of baby babbling from behind closed doors. When we walked in, Lainey said, "Look, mom! Clouds!" There were clumps of cotton batting on the floor and in the crib. He had bitten the head off his "Baby's First Doll" that was supposed to be baby-proof and safe for all ages! Well, I exaggerate a little: he actually ripped open the back of the baby's neck, I'm assuming with his teeth, and proceeded to pull out clumps of batting and throw them around. Needless to say, he no longer has any baby-doll privileges unless supervised.

* This incident was not a purposefully destructive use of his teeth, but destroy they did: he climbed up in the swivel office chair by my computer and leaned his full weight against the back of the chair, sending himself crashing face-first into the corner of the coffee table. I was in the room with him -- boy, is he quick -- but just could not navigate my 9-months-pregnant body around the coffee table and across the toy-strewn floor fast enough to stop his fall, so I saw it all happen and arrived at his side just as he hit.

Blood was flowing! He had a nosebleed that stopped quickly, but the main source was 2 gaping holes inside his lip where his teeth went in, 1 apparently as deep as the tooth could go. I immediately called a nurse friend from church who assured me that unless he had bitten through or almost through the lip, the doctor would not stitch it, that there was really nothing I could do except avoid salty foods, and that it would heal remarkably quickly. We saw her that evening and she looked at it for me and assured me there was no need to take him to the doctor. She was right; although he had fat top and bottom lips for a few days, it appears to be healing rapidly. Thank goodness for the anti-bacterial properties of saliva, and that the coffee table has rounded corners!

Although not related to his teeth, I cannot help but add that the next day he wiggled slyly out of his seat belt in the grocery-store shopping cart and, in a mere instant, stood up and threw himself headlong toward the ground. I thank the Lord I was standing right beside him and caught him by a leg (or maybe it was around his waist; I was too stunned to remember) mid-air, a few inches from impact: impact between the floor and the top of his head, that is.

When I got him right-side-up, he was panting in a panicked way I have never heard before, so I hope it scared him enough that he won't try it again, but I'm afraid it was simply because he had the wind knocked out of him by my miraculous catch. Someone involved (Jackson, myself, Lainey, or the cashier who witnessed) must have cried out, because once I began to recover, I noticed the whole grocery store -- or at least everyone within eyesight -- was staring at us. This child is a MONKEY and knows NO FEAR!

* The best (or "worst," depending on how you look at it... perhaps I should say, "most impressive") use of his teeth was today as he woke from his nap. I suppose in hindsight the headless baby doll should have been foreshadowing for this waking destructiveness, but I did not see it coming. He surpassed even my expectations for what kind of impact he could make with his teeth. Up to my elbows in dishwater, I heard him talking in his crib post-nap but let him babble cheerfully for a few minutes. When I went in to retrieve him, Lainey and Helena (our visiting 13-year-old friend) were immediately summoned: "Come quick, you have got to see what he did!"

Somehow -- I am assuming using teeth, but it could have been fingers -- he managed to pull the sheet off his crib mattress and RIP the COVER off the entire top of the mattress, exposing the cottony stuffing inside, which he then began to pull out in clumps. When I walked in, he was sputtering and spitting, trying to rid himself of a mouthful of it; evidently it was a lot dryer and less flavorful than he anticipated! I don't think he actually ingested any of it.

For tonight, Ron duct-taped the mattress top securely back on and turned the mattress over where he has no access to any of the compromised area, and I will be vigilant at any noise I hear from him during the night or in the morning. Tomorrow we'll be going mattress shopping. Hope we can find an affordable but sturdy mattress! (On a side note, the mattress was borrowed from aforementioned nurse friend!! So they'll be getting a new mattress out of the deal.)