Oh, hey.
Hi. Still here! New year, man, it’s been a fun few months.
Guys, I kid you not, with the exception of about one week, I have been sick since I wrote my last post. I fully blame my medication which makes me (apparently) extremely susceptible to catching everything. I actually had to stop taking my immune-suppressing arthritis meds for a full month so that I can get better. As of today, I’m dealing with a lingering cough, and it loves me and never wants to let me go. BUT, a cough and a little phlegm is much better than what it was.
I actually lost my voice for about a week, which is hilarious because I have a natural stage voice which has always cut through any illness that could potentially interfere with it’s being heard. So, having only the power to whisper (I couldn’t even muster a scream-whisper!) for a week, was –well I’d like to have deep reflections about it in relation to peaceful parenting, but I don’t. It was frustrating.
Jude’s super proud about pillaging the house at all hours and has perfected his technique of getting into something really bad that needs big cleanups, and then darting to something even worse.
At one point he got a hold of a secret stash of hyper pigmented MAGENTA water color and poured the entire bottle onto himself and the carpet (I HATE CARPET WHY DOES CARPET EXIST.)
To give you an idea of the damage one bottle will do: I only need one DROP from a dropper to use for an entire work.
So as I’m scrubbing the carpet with soap and water, it was like that terrible shampoo prank I’ve seen floating around, where a guy hangs out just above someone using a public beach shower, perpetually pouring shampoo unbeknownst to the showering guy, and the suds just get worse and worse until the guy is basically crying.
An hour of scrubbing and carpet shampooing later, I gave up— mostly because by then, Jude has also turned to emptying the fridge of all the yogurts and peeling the lids off of every one, and then tossing whole rolls of tp into each toilet. He also enjoys pouring cups of water into the trash can. And finding my old makeup and spreading what he can on all surfaces. And drowning my potted plants. And getting into my 20lb Costco bag of rice. And the eggs. And he shattered our TV screen. GUYS, HAVE KIDS!
Living large, that Jude Benedict.
We also endured two losses- my beloved Aunt Suzie, and my childhood parish priest.
Emmett suffered a concussion. It was terrifying. He has an extremely high pain tolerance. I’ve seen the kid run giddily through the house with splinters in the bottoms of each foot.
So when he slipped and fell in the kitchen a few weeks ago, he was instantly crying, and I knew it was a bad one. I held him for a while, and let him go, thinking he was okay, but within minutes he came to me saying, “Do you want to fix the Emmett?” and next thing I know, I’m holding him as he grows pale and lethargic– and begins vomiting nonstop. To the hospital we went.
Lexington was instrumental in being helpful in that event. He called Craig while I was holding Emmett over the sink vomiting to tell him what was happening. Lexington also got Collin and Jude buckled into their carseats while I carried Emmett to the car, and he reassured everyone– Even Emmett while he continued to vomit during the car ride to the hospital, that the doctors will help “fix the Emmett.”
Emmett is fine. He’s had lots of resting time, and seems to be back to himself. Though, he does pay more mind when I remind him not to run through the house as he always does.
And lest you stop reading here (or maybe you stopped a many paragraphs back) thinking I love reciting my litanies of woe, I truly have felt that while there have been individual life frustrations and difficult times in the last few weeks, it still isn’t truly bad, and I actually feel more blessed and loved by our Creator. I’ve been blessed to spend a lot of time with family. My sister-in-law drove the 50 minutes from her job, all the way here, in the middle of the week, to relieve my Dad who was watching Lexington, Collin, and Jude, prepared to stay the night with the boys so that Craig and I could be with Emmett in the hospital.
My extended family from Cali flew to Cincinnati for my aunt’s funeral, and being with them is always such a life-breathing renewal. Lexington being brave and knowing how to help in a stressful situation– my heart bursts with pride over him. Craig is a strong support, and a loving encourager of visiting with my family, taking time for myself, and of working to create more for my Etsy shop– these people showing their love and sacrifice during tough times is God speaking to me.. “you are loved.”
I endeavor to be that as well for my family.
Other little things, not so important:
– I completed my Thicket Green shawl (I’m wearing it as a scarf two pictures above), and BEGAN! the goddess shawl I droned on about a few posts back.
– I have announcements! To make! New prints for Etsy! Projects! Events! To come. later. This post is too long.
love to you, friend. Thanks for hanging around the svell blog.
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What a scary thing that happened to your son Emmett! I am glad to hear he is doing well now!! It sounds like you are raising some great boys. What a gift to have your oldest be so helpful and caring. Also, I have a Joshua Benedict who is around the same age as your Jude Benedict, and they sound the same. I blame the name ;)
Oh gosh, how scary about Emmett. Glad to hear he’s doing better — and you too! And yikes, you have me nervous for a destructo toddler…my almost 3 year old gets up to shenanigans, but nothing like what you describe – mostly just coloring on the furniture or trying to clean too vigorously with toilet water…haha.
My heart just broke hearing about Emmett’s fall. I am so glad he is doing better now. Thank you for always being real and honest! Love your blog and your work. :)
Jude and Theo, man. One in the same. Total disasters.
Also, I pray for you, like, all duh time xx