Checked Up

Eli and Titus had their check ups on Wednesday. 

Eli's 18 months, and Titus' 4 month. 

 

Titus weighs 15 pounds, and is 24 inches long.

 

Eli weighs 25 pounds, and is 32 inches long.

Both healthy. 

Eli is doing fantastic, especially as a heart baby.  He's 30 percentile with weight, and 50 percentile with height. 

Titus is 25 percentile with weight, and just under 50 percentile with height. 

These two boys have colds right now. The appointment was actually pretty stressful. Eli had a melt down... he hates doctors! They checked his oxygen saturation because of his cold, and he had this weird coloring on his chest. But his oxygen sats were just fine. Mid 80s, as usual. He also got his ears cleaned--which was torture!! Isaac wanted to play hide and go seek behind the examination bed, and Titus was tired and hungry. Goodness, that is why we hardly ever do these things. I'm glad we do though. I'm also grateful that Matt made time to come with us this, for he helped calm all the crazy! 

Poem of the Month

October has flown by so quick! Has anybody else felt that way? I haven't had really anytime to reflect on a poem. So last night I asked Matt if he wanted to pick one.

He says, "Well you've already done the 'Ball Turret Gunner.'"

Me, "No I haven't."

Matt, "Then do that one."

Me, "Why that one, does it relate to anything we're up to?"

Matt, "No, but I understand it." 

So Babe, this one is for you:

The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner

Randall Jarrell

From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,

And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.

Six miles from earth loosed from its dream of life,

I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.

When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose. 

[1945]

Okay, so a ball turret is a rotating plexiglas sphere hanging from a bomber fuselage in which a man defended the plane by firing machine guns at enemy fighters.

And "black flak" is anti-aircraft fire.

This was written during WW2. Jarrell was in the US Army Air Force, and one can presume how much he saw and witnessed. I cannot find the statistic--I know it's out there--but the casualty rate of the ball turret gunners was really, really high. 

I'm looking through Matt's notes in his old literature book from his undergraduate, and he has written by the first line in the poem that "[the ball turret is] like a mother's belly, being born into the 'machine.'"

................................

I think this poem makes us think of the sacrifice of men and women. 

Me and Matt have checked out Ken Burns' The Civil War documentary. We are in the middle of it. Man, it has really sobered us to the reality of war. I know, I know, Matt has been part of war, and is training to become an officer in the Army. But today's war is so much different than yesteryear's war. 

I have also just finished Augustus by Anthony Everitt. (Augustus is Rome's first emperor. Good read, by the way.) Wow. Thousands and thousands of men lost their lives in battles. 

What the human race does to its self is astounding. 

And know what Matt? This is quite a poem to pick and understand. I know I didn't get it the first time I read it. You're a deep dude, Dude. 

Okay, It's a "WHAT!?" Day

I don't know how to describe today. It was busy. It was traumatic. It was enlightening. It was fun. It was WHAT?!

This morning I am making pancakes. I am really trying to be fun and creative with my pancake molding skills. I form this huge pancake into a shape of an electric guitar. Hmm.... now how do I flip this thing? I try from the side. Nope, not going to work. Well, maybe I should go from the back to the front. I move the spatula under the pancake, and push towards me, and... WHAT?! HOLY COW!! OUCH!! I just pushed the whole freakin' hot griddle onto my open tummy skin!! A large, burning hot red blister forms one inch below my belly button. Well that was fun... 

Okay, got that big ouch under control. 

Time to sit and see what the internet offers today. WHAT?! Sometimes Facebook offers too much information. I learn sad, sad things about a married couple we know. Darn, that was depressing. 

Okay, got my feelings under control.

Lets have an hour play date! Yes, play is fun. Chat, play, and WHAT TIME IS IT?! Holy smokes Isaac, it's time to get ready for preschool. Run out our friend's door and come home for lunch, and quick bath.

Okay, got Isaac to preschool. 

Ahhh... the two little ones asleep. I will take a nice little nap. After a bit Titus wakes up. He nurses. Then Eli wakes up. Ready to head out the door. WHAT?! Eli you pooped out your diaper, and I need to be there right now to get Isaac! I guess I'll be late.

Okay, picked Isaac up from preschool, a tad late.

Time for some playground fun with some other preschool friends! The kids play and have fun. They run. Us moms chat. It is time to go. Hmm... maybe on the way home I'll go and look at this cute little home that is being renovated and open for rent in a month or two. WHAT?! The people are home and willing to show me around?! I fall in love with the property. Deeply in love. Hmm... must talk to Matt about this. 

Okay, got kids home safe and sound.

Now what's for dinner? I have no ideas. How about cereal? Everyone shouts for joy! Well, lets see, we have Kix. Okay, Kix is what's for dinner. WHAT?! We are out of bowls because I neglected to wash dishes for one day and every bowl is way, way dirty? Okay Isaac, do you want to eat your Kix out of a pie dish? You do? That's great! Yummy, now some chocolate cheese cake to finish it off? Sure! 

Okay, everyone is fed, bathed, in pjs, happy, and playing. I sit down to write.

Ahh... The End.

Wait! I just heard crying! WHAT?! Isaac your sad because you just hurt yourself?! 

To be continued... 

A House Combined

Football season is upon us. It is time to pick sides. Or is it?

Matt is a die hard Boise State University fan. I, Shannon, am a die hard Florida State fan. Odd combination of teams, don't you think?

Luckily the chance of the two teams playing is like, oh, one and a million. Hardly any rivalry, or animosity, exists between the two programs. 

Our boys are free to pick both teams to cheer for. Which they do! 

Yesterday I asked Isaac, "Which shirt do you want to wear?" He says, "Both them. Boise State first, and Florida State you see!" So there you go! 

A Boise State shirt underneath his Florida State jersey. We decided that Eli could do the same, with Florida State t-shirt underneath a Boise State jersey. See:

Isaac recognizes Boise State University's logo, colors, and football team pretty easily. (I mean, he lives here, for crying out loud!) But good news! He now can say "Flor-da State!," and recognize the colors. And yesterday when he saw a team with red on he asked, "Is that Flor-da State? Oh, that not Flor-da State. Thats different team." So yes, he recognizes the FSU team. 

Is all this important? Yes. Yes it is. To our family, and especially the grandparents, it is. For they are the ones that provide all the sweet sportswear! 

........................

Here is a picture of our little love, Titus. He's so cute. 

And 4 months old, can you believe it? 

Man, he loves this swing! We do too, actually... 

Let's Compare:

Our sons at age 3 months old. 

Titus, Eli, then Isaac

  

Now some smiles!

I think they look like brothers. 

Each different, but each similar. 

And all beautiful! 

Our Zoo

Welcome to Our Zoo! 

Currently me and Matt are the care takers of 3 beautiful male creatures.

They are fun, loving, and full of life. 

Incase you ever have to take charge of this establishment, here are some guidelines:

They need plenty of creative play. 

A huge mountain of clean clothes in the middle of the floor can do the trick.

Three meals a day, and maybe some snacks. 

The oldest is not the biggest fan of food, but he comes around.

The middle LOVES food, and the youngest just needs some mama's milk.

More creative play.

These creatures cannot get enough of it. 

Football + couch cushions has become a favorite.

Keep your eyes peeled! 

Sometimes it looks like a sweet moment, but things can get ugly fast!  

The middle loves to squash and sit on the youngest... out of love, of course.

Bath time is important. 

They are bathed almost everyday.

Most of the time very fun, but sometimes... well... sometimes... just be on our guard!

The chance of escape is minimal, but you never know. 

Thanks for visiting Our Zoo! 

Hope to see you again soon! (You'd totally be willing to babysit, right?)

September Rewind

What a busy busy month September turned out to be! Let me outlines some things this post will cover:

• Labor Day fun
  
• Isaac's Birthday Party
  
• Eli's Heart Appointment
  
• ESPN's College Game Day
  
• Boise State University vs Oregon State University 
  
• Random Stuff

  ...............

Labor Day we went to the Kirkham Hot Springs, bout 2 hours away from here. It was a wonderful time. We went with Matt's parents and sister. Was a lot fun, and Isaac and Eli became very adventurous! It cool to see that part of them.

Isaac celebrated his birthday with cousins and friends at a nice park. He loved it! And of course the Pirate Cake was the center of attention. 

Wow. Eli's heart appointment. Click HERE to get all the details. He's doing well. Growing and developing well. 

One change that we found out after the heart appointment is that his surgery will NOT be next May. Because he is doing so well they want to wait till he is older so they can put an adult size something in him. Not sure when the surgery is going to be... sometime. Maybe even when he turns 3. 

Eli is a very, very sweaty baby. Has to do with heart and stuff. 

See where his head was when sleeping?

ESPN's College Game Day came to Boise. We went. Why not? The boys woke up at 7am and we had nothing better to do. It was fun to see how the put on the show. Lots of people showed up, probably around 13,000.

Matt then went to the BSU game versus Oregon State. BSU won, and the game was just a ton of fun to be part of. I think someone is really happy he goes to Boise State!

Onto random stuff. 

Here is a picture of our fuzzy little baby bear. He's a growing! 

Matt showing the boys how to patch a bike tire. I love this photo.

Sometimes I wonder, "Did Boise State throw up on you?"

Matt also went on a weekend trip with the Boise State's Army ROTC. He's hard core! Kept up with all the 18-20 year olds. Though it took its toll. Some jokingly asked him, "Hey, aren't you supposed to retire soon?"

Well, y'all, thanks for stopping by! That was September!