Heal your gut. Heal your life.
I took a deep dive into answering the question so many of us, who have been given Miralax as a solution for IBS, are asking, “What is Miralax?”
Our NICU babies have blossomed into big and thriving children. September is National NICU Awareness Month. I’m celebrating our own story today.
This year I’m still holding the badge of honor as a preschool mom; yesterday was Samarah and Isaiah’s first day of preschool.
Happy Birthday, Isaiah {You are Three}. Hardly seems real that another year has gone by so quickly. It seems like just yesterday that I wrote a letter to you for your first birthday, Happy Birthday, Isaiah {You are One}, and then another one for your second, Happy Birthday, Isaiah {You are Two}.
But today is the day I write this third birthday letter for you. Today, on May 13, 2018, is the day we’ll celebrate both your birthday and Mother’s Day.
It’s both ironic and fitting that the day would land as one.
Dear Isaiah,
You and I have come a long, long ways.
These last couple months have been some of my favorite with you so far, and some day when you are big enough to understand all the little intricacies of life and love and you, Samarah, Amiya, mama, and daddy, I’ll tell you about it.
After Samarah, we wanted another baby. We didn’t really specify gender or anything else (except we did kind of request non-Caucasian, intentionally). Deep down, though, I know your daddy wanted a little boy. And truth be told, I did, too. Because I always wanted my own little Isaiah (since 1995).
On May 13, 2015, you were born. You could not stay with your birth mama, and the plans for you were clearly set. Making your way to us was not in the state’s plans.
But making your way to us was in God’s hands, and during these past few years I’ve oftentimes wondered “Why?” There was Elisabeth on the outside and ups and down on the inside.
Here I sit, on your third birthday, and I, very openly, sincerely, and honestly, know why.
While it’s scary to think that your name goes hand-in-hand with, “….and a child shall lead them,” they are words I have forced myself to come back to time-and-time again.
You are the child that is teaching me that not everything will come easy in life, but if you give things time and patience, practice and perseverance, all the great things worth having make it all worth it.
All boy. All. Boy. Fire trucks, dump trucks, garbage trucks, you name it…..you play with them all day.
Sometimes all girl. It’s true, for as much true boy as you are, your sister’s influence on you is real. You’ll hold babies with them and stuffed animals, push doll strollers and say, “Awwww…..” while rocking a doll.
Active. You don’t sit still for 2 seconds. You love to run, jump, ride your bike, and do jump squats with mama.
A huge fan of Katie’s. You really love Katie. Each night before bed you ask us, “Will Katie be here tomorrow?” We always respond, “Yes, buddy, now it’s time for bed.”
A singing soul. Since we got you, you’ve always picked up on beats. Now that you can talk, you pick up on words after hearing a song even just once. One of the best nights you and I had during the past month was spending a night together at Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Donny’s house. On the drive out, we had just hit the gravel roads when a song I had not yet heard came on the radio, “I Need a Ride Home” by Carly Pearce. I instantly fell in love with the song, and you did, too. You picked up on words instantly, and when we listen to it now, you know words here and there. I’ll forever think of you when I hear that song.
An eating machine. Seriously, you can out eat me, and sometimes you even give your daddy a run for the money. We are scared of what the grocery bill is going to look like as you get bigger.
A Gutsy boy like your mama. I always thought it was going to be Samarah who would remain the Gutsy baby. She outgrew it, you still have not (nor has Amiya). We currently have you on a very strict diet, and this past week has proved wildly awesome changes with you (well, except for last night when you got into a little popcorn and we caved on the French Fries!). Your stomach is huge and you’re a poopin’ machine if we don’t have it under control. Secretly, I love that I get to help you sort through the gut stuff. Hang in there buddy, one day you’ll be eating all your beloved apples again 🙂
Woody Wood Pecker. You still laugh like Woody, and it cracks everyone up.
An entertainer. Put some music on, and your little head and body will wiggle and bop for what seems like hours. It’s absolutely hilarious!
A total stud. Randomly, at the dinner table last night, you said to your daddy, “I need a haircut.” You’re always about your haircut and shades, and when you have a fresh cut and those shades on, you’re a total stud.
Daddy’s boy. Currently you’d choose your daddy over mama in a heartbeat. You love your daddy, and he has all the patience in the world for potty training with you when mama is still uncertain with the little man’s boy parts attitude (you always want to show mama – such a trip).
Happy. 90% of your time is spent being happy. You have a smile that’s infectious, and as long as your tummy doesn’t hurt, is full, and plenty of hours of sleep under your belt, happy is what you’ll choose.
Sweet as pie. Yes, Isaiah. You truly are sweet as pie. Recently before one of my work trips you told daddy you were sad. When he asked why, you told him, “Because Mommy is leaving.” Your intentions are gold.
Happy, happy birthday my sweet boy!
Listen – today is Mother’s Day, so I hope you’ll be real nice to mama, too.
We have a big and fun day planned – mostly spending it outside, which is something you and I both love.
We love you little man.
Happy 3rd birthday, buddy!
p.s. And yes, yes we are making your special chocolate cake tonight!
Xox,
Mama
I don’t know why, but whenever my kids are playing or sitting together, two words come to my mind: Squad Goals.
At dinner with my friends on Friday night, they asked if Samarah, Isaiah, and Amiya have other biological siblings.
I replied, “Oh yeah. For sure they do.”
Between the three of them, they have six other biological siblings. The hardest part of knowing that? Of the six, there is only one that we will ever have the possibility of contacting and developing a relationship with. For me, even that one is sort of a stretch due to circumstances.
We took the kids to Minneapolis yesterday to watch their cousin play basketball. Samarah and Isaiah did okay for awhile, but then all three of them really just wanted snacks.
As long as there are snacks, their worlds keep on spinning. Totally cool with me – snackers like their mama.
I let Ryan finish watching the game, and I did popcorn with them.
They all wanted to sit at the table side-by-side on the bench, and it was the first time I have seen them all lined up eating together in this way (Maya is finally coming over the not-so-baby-like anymore curve).
I couldn’t resist. I started taking picture after picture and shot some videos that I put on Instagram.
Those two words kept popping up: Squad Goals.
As I scrolled through the popcorn photos and videos, I couldn’t help but think about their other biological siblings.
Will they want to seek them out someday or will they be perfectly okay with the squad they formed and sibling status gained through their own life circumstances and the love of Ryan and me?
Right now, they don’t know any different. They love each other one minute and fight like cats and dogs the next.
Someday they might be curious about those other six, and quite honestly, I wouldn’t blame them. I would, too.
My hope, though, is that they never wish for a better squad because I think they are going to make the best little team ever.
Xox,
SKH
If you don’t have time to read these posts daily, but don’t want to miss them, be sure to follow via Bloglovin’ and/or join my personal e-newsletter HERE. I am doing my best to send a once per week email recap of prior week’s posts.
These posts will all live under “Wellness+Lifestyle” and also tagged with “101 Days of Blogging.” The 101-day series runs from Monday, January 8, 2018, through Wednesday, April 18, 2018.
If there is a topic surrounding change that you would love for me to include in this series, please just CONTACT ME.
Two is hard.
And for me, this two, in this season, right now, is really hard.
On Saturday, after quite the morning, I decided that Sunday would be dedicated to Isaiah. I wasn’t sure what we do or for how long, but I did know that spending time with him, just he and I, was an absolute.
Sunday morning I woke up and Googled, “owatonna mn kids activities.” Barely anything popped up, except for this place (that actually my nanny had told me about last week, too) called, “RAD Zoo.” Rad = you think that’s all cute and fun, and rad, yes? Well look, here’s what RAD stands for: Reptile and Amphibian Discovery.
I chose not to view their website before going because I didn’t want to know. Ignorance is bliss y’all. In this situation, ignorance is just bliss.
So, late morning, I loaded Samarah and Isaiah in the car. My MIL stayed home with Amiya (she’s still battling a rotten cold), and I dropped Samarah off with Ba ‘Ngoai. (To be clear this is my Godmother, Lan, who I talk about all the time here – we refer to her often as Ba ‘Ngoai because that’s grandma in Vietnamese. She’s one of my most favorite people in the entire world, and now that we’re back in Minnesota, she’ll be talked about a ton. Trust me, you’re going to love her!)
Isaiah and I headed out of our sleepy, little town to another fairly sleepy, little town called Owatonna, MN. Our first stop was to Target, and instead of making it a mama day for perusing all the aisles, I went in with three missions: a birthday card for my dad (tomorrow!), regular + fingerless mittens, and a choo-choo train for Isaiah (because that’s what he wanted).
After Target, I went through the Caribou drive through to grab a latte, and then we rolled up to the RAD Zoo. We walked in, I paid our fee, and off we went. Isaiah ran up to every single cage/aquarium and pointed -> “Turtle, mommy.” He ran from reptile-to-reptile, and because he is an antsy pants, didn’t stay with any one reptile for more than 30 seconds.
Meanwhile, I felt nauseous. I assumed there would be a few snakes and then several other reptiles, but it felt like the entire place was only snakes. I told my mom there must have been more than 20, and according to this, I was right. Guys, there was an anaconda there – a freaking anaconda. I. Could. Have. Died.
But Isaiah loved it.
Just prior to leaving, one of the worker’s brought out a snake for the kids to “pet.” It may have been the Eastern Milk Snake, but I’m not positive. Anyways, Isaiah walked right up. I told him, “Go for it, buddy, but mommy is going to stay back here and watch you.” He loved “petting” it – OMG – but when he started tugging its tail, I freaked a little and said, “annnnnnnd done.”
But Isaiah loved it.
We purelled the heck out of his hands, and then it was time to go.
I loaded him into the car, we got groceries, a chocolate shake for my dad (don’t ask), and finally spent a little time at my parent’s house before heading home for the day.
This is the face of a little boy who is incredibly adorable.
And yesterday with Isaiah was a really awesome day with just the two of us.
Two has been so hard for me during this transition and change. And while I’m not going to sugarcoat the realities of the day-to-day with two, transition, and change, I learned something yesterday.
I didn’t want to see the reptiles, but Isaiah did, and if you want the truth, I didn’t even want to do the day at all.
But I felt it deep down that Isaiah needed it.
So I did the day, went through the motions, and did all the things that made Isaiah happy while knowing he was loved.
And what happened was that together, he and I had a wonderful day together. I actually, truly, and 100% loved spending the whole day with just my two-year-old little man. He was so good and so happy, and even the rest of the night when we got home, he thrived in ways he hasn’t for several days now.
I realized that this transition and change and everything currently happening in my life is no excuse to not honor many of those same things happening for two (and one, and four, and – well – I can’t tell you how old Ryan is because it may or may not almost be over the hill 🙂 ).
Isaiah needs things right now that I have not been giving to him, namely my time and undivided attention. Having a one, two, and four-year-old while going through massive change is not easy, but I must help them embrace change as much as I’m trying to help myself do it.
However, there must be a better way to do it than to ever have to go back to the RAD Zoo. Like ever. (Also, did I just write almost a whole post kind-of-sort-of focused on snakes and include two snake pictures? Who have I even become?!)
p.s. SKOL Vikings. You knew I had to throw this in here.
Xox,
SKH
If you don’t have time to read these posts daily, but don’t want to miss them, be sure to follow via Bloglovin’ and/or join my personal e-newsletter HERE. I am doing my best to send a once per week email recap of prior week’s posts.
These posts will all live under “Wellness+Lifestyle” and also tagged with “101 Days of Blogging.” The 101-day series runs from Monday, January 8, 2018, through Wednesday, April 18, 2018.
If there is a topic surrounding change that you would love for me to include in this series, please just CONTACT ME.
