In the thick of things

So we all feel like we are "in the trenches of life" right? Life just keeps getting busier and crazier with more things to do in a day than are realistically possible, not to mention the crazy expectations that most often we put on ourselves. Going back to the basics is hard but so refreshing. Right now I feel like I am in a really good and happy place in life. It's really chaotic and crazy at times, I am often tested to my limits but I also know that my role as a stay at home mom to my young son is the absolute best possible thing for him and our family. It's pushing me way beyond my comfort zone in some areas but I know that is good and keeps me from feeling stagnant. In today's  world with the technology at our fingertips it's hard not to compare myself to other "super-moms" out there who appear to get it all done and well at that. I have to remind myself that we all have different strengths and I don't see the whole picture.

As I navigate through this time in my life I sometimes have to unplug and remind myself that I am creative and crafty, that I am doing a good job in my roles in our family. That although I am not perfectly patient with Erik all the time....I am perfectly his mom. I could handle to improve in many areas but I am learning as I am going. I am learning about him just as he is learning about our world and about himself. I often feel at a loss but also know that he is turning out to be a fine young boy and that I am working at it the best I know how.

I will admit that having a little boy in our house gives me a run for my money. So much energy, so little attention span, so much rough and tumble, but so many smiles and belly laughing. This is but a small moment.................I really REALLY really want to cherish it, and have to remind myself of that when my patience all but ran out by 9 am on some days. My mind is definitely not wired the same as a his and I just dont know how to get through to him sometimes. Which is why I am so grateful that Lindsay and I make such a great team because when he gets home from work, the baton passes and he who makes the coolest games, forts, and anything boyminded walks in the door....I am all but forgotten unless a drink or food is desired. I love it, absolutely. Although I wish I could delve into their brains better for the day time. I wish I was the one with the attention span for the boy minded fun stuff. Playing boy things to me is just hard and really stretches me, if I must be completely honest. I just dont quite grasp it. I understand that it's important and good to explore with him and do all the things that boys love, but sometimes it's " push comes to shove" type of thing. I do it and hope I do it well enough to give him the outlet he needs.

But I am excited that I get to teach Erik preschool for the next couple of years. I think it will help me give more purpose and structure to our days, it will help Erik in obvious academic and attention span levels (have I mentioned that our little guy has so much energy its amazing....not so much hyperactivity as just pure energy). One academic year of preschool here is more than I paid for college tuition....thus I will be homeschooling Erik until he reaches school age. We will supplement social skills and things with some sort of fun classes like gymnastics, swimming, etc. I am quite excited as I mentioned and have been having fun gathering ideas and sorting things out in my mind.

So hand/foot disease is gone. I have been busy filling my small pockets of time looking up information and thus have left the blog a bit lacking. I apologize....Erik would love to sell you some of his toys in his market and scan it through his register if you are interested. He is a great business man!

As I prepare for teaching him at home....I asked on facebook already but if any of you have ideas on how I can increase his attention span or the best way to teach a highly active child..... I am all ears. Maybe he is not so active as an only child =  I am sole entertainer and he doesnt want to do much on his own. That may a more appropriate statement.

Squirmy eyes BEWARE

 Now before you look at these pictures be warned that they are gross and I am quite embarrassed to share them but it is life and thus it brings interest right? Or maybe since I am in quarantine I have nothing else to share with you.

SoI am guessing a good number have heard of the common childhood illness called..."hand foot and mouth disease." And if you have experienced this in your house your children were absolutely miserable and wouldn't eat and cranky. Now this is as I mentioned a childhood illness....most of the time adults don't contract it because they are already immune.

Now let me share my story...we have just moved (ok we have been hear nearly half a year now-CRAZY!) to Australia. My brother who is a pharmacist warned me that when we moved we would probably get sick quite a bit in the beginning even with all the shots the military mandated on us due to the foreign country having different strains of viruses and bacteria. --- well the good news, we always need to look at the silver lining right. While usually I prefer Erik to be sick rather than me, just due to the fact that I can take care of him easier than if I am sick and trying to entertain a two year old...I am so glad I GOT SICK this time.  I got the hand foot and mouth disease and I am glad. It is PAINFUL! I have new empathy for all little ones who have it. I dont want to eat although I am starving.....due to this monster sore (among other ones not pictured)

I don't want to utter another word by the end of the day because it hurts to talk, and drink, and swallow, BUT at least I understand what is going on and can force myself to do what I need to.

These are not great pictures but these are pics of what the little blisters on my fingers and feet look like. They started out as red dots and are now turning into small blisters. They itch a little but are sore to touch. I am hoping they dont pop-that is one way the virus spreads and thus will keep Erik from getting this nasty bug.

There is nothing I can do for it, but just wait it out at home so I don't infect anyone else. Funny thing is, there are a number of nursery kids from Erik's church class with it, he managed to escape it and I got it. NOT complaining this time, I can't imagine taking care of him in this much pain. Especially since I otherwise feel fine, I have full energy and would eat a horse if it didn't hurt so much. So this time around although I am really suffering, I am so glad I got sick. Hoping the symptims will go away soon so we can get back into play dates and the normal fun we participate in. And just so you all know this disease is NOT the one linked to livestock. Has a similar name but is different.

Hoping none of you ever has to experience this virus...or your poor little ones.

Tips for those who inevidably will..

-Don't force the food, it hurts and there is nothing more your child wants than food...It's like being teased.

-Don't pop the blisters

-Popsicles although not healthy feel really good on the mouth sores

-As does yogurt, although Swallowing hurts

-Don't force any talking

-lots of hand washing can help keep it from spreading and keeping blisters covered if they do pop

-excuse the crankiness, they really dont want to be cranky

So you all enjoy a nice outing while we chill out here in the apartment waiting for the day we can explore again!

oh where oh where does the time go?

             (this pic has nothing to do with this post but is the logo on Lindsay's new jet)


Seriously people I don't know where the time goes. Each day I wake up and by the end of the day I feel like I am exhausted and ready for bed but there is still so much to accomplish. Maybe that is because as I am working on becoming the woman that I want to be, I am more aware of  things that need attention as well as goals that I have set for myself.

Life is so much faster paced here, and while I love it....I am learning a new balancing act. I often feel like I am walking a tight rope trying to figure out what I want to do, what I need to do, what my family wants and needs, etc. Erik is constantly growing into new phases and stages and trying to figure out the best way possible to parent him is always on my mind. I know there is no right way to parent....but I am really trying to figure out his personality and his needs so that I can be the mom that will help him reach his potential the best. Being a parent has such a greater scope than I ever imagined. I love to see him thrive and achieve and when he is proud of himself it makes my day (even if sometimes he is so cleverly naughty and I have to walk out of the room and gain composure before I head back in to discipline). He has the ability to go so far and I want to help him see his potential and give him the necessary tools and skills to get there.

We are constantly on the move whether we are leaving the house or not. Our little man is not one to stay too focused (I am working on it) and he loves imaginary things so we are constantly acting out stories, pretending to be different people, and perform different tasks with objects other than what they were intended for. I love that he is willing to do short arts and crafts projects and gets so excited to show linds his work when linds walks in the door.

I am happy that our little apartment is starting to really feel like a home and a place where our family likes to be. I love that Erik has been laid back enough to go with the flow when I drag him all around town on public transport or walking around running errands. He knows the bank girls by face and asks to go there sometimes (more on that later). I love that our family is spending more time together doing simple things in the evenings.

And I am really starting to find that I am enjoying time in the kitchen. when dinner time rolls around I am not always fond to get going but I am starting to bake and reaching out into avenues of cooking I was previously too scared to try. Maybe it's because just moving here I have to constantly convert measurements into the metric system, and there are many more diverse cuisines here, and just different items available or not available.

Speaking of diversity I take Erik to a nursery rhyme class at the library when i can and about a month ago, the woman leading the class had us all introduce ourselves and our child. Turns out in that room we had families from Norway, Japan, China, India, America (that was us!), Denmark, and of course Australian. Erik is definitely used to seeing people who look way different from him here and it's great! Although a lot of the asians in the touristy parts of town have never seen blonde hair, let alone as blonde as he is. They always want to take pictures and while Erik is a rather outgoing kid, once he realizes all eyes are on him he clams up and so we have to be careful about what we call his "paparazzi."

So that is a basic post, hoping to catch you up a bit. More to come soon!