Picture this, Nat and I had a wonderful evening planned with the kids. We had just finished a delicious pizza meal made by Agnes and afterward Lily and her friend Kaylee had done a little concert, singing & dancing for everyone in the home. Totally tranquil.
Then Lily started complaining that she had a headache, but not just any headache, this one was the headache of the century! Historians would be talking about this headache! She really played it up, or so I thought. At first I thought that she was just being dramatic (as she usually is) because she wanted some attention. I figured that new baby is stealing most of her thunder so it's only natural.
So anyways, I thought she had a headache but that she was majorly playing it up with her usual weeping and convulsive fits (if you knew Lily well, you would know exactly the kind of fits I am talking about). I must admit that I was being quite insensitive about the whole thing, telling her to calm down and quit the drama and just get to bed. I helped her brush her teeth through more weeping and fits and then I carried her to our bed. I joked with her a bit and asked her "Do you feel like throwing up? Cuz if you do, don't throw up on our blanket" and I kinda chuckled then turned around to search for some bucket or bag that she could have on hand just in case she really wasn't feeling all that well. And that is when all the fun started!
I no sooner turned around when I heard that all too familiar sound (a child vomiting on your freshly washed blanket!) I was horrified! I quickly ran to her and tried to catch some of it so it wouldn't fall on our blanket (too late!) and I rushed her to the bathroom. I was like, "You told me that you didn't feel like throwing up!" and she was like "I didn't have to when you asked me" and then "Ow my head hurts" and so on. Nat was in the other room telling me to calm down and saying, "Don't worry, I will wash the blanket" and telling me not to be mad at Lily cuz she didn't feel well, etc.
I, the "clean-freak" was inconsolable. I thought to myself, "Don't worry Chris, you just have to clean up the vomit that is on the bed, her clothes, the sink, etc, etc. It's not too bad". So, I got Lil all cleaned up started filling up the sink to soak her clothes and carried her to bed. I then felt quite bad for having been a jerk to her and not believing her in the first place so I apologized to her and hung out with her for a while and prayed with her for the night. I called Nat in to say good night to her and so she could see that I wasn't a cruel dad and that I was spending time with my sick daughter and apologizing.
Then I told Nat "I am going to finish washing Lily's clothes and take a shower". I was not prepared for what I saw next; the sink that was previously filled with vomit and lily's clothes, was overflowing (with the water that I forgot to turn off) and it had flooded the bathroom and was spilling into our room! I was panicking! I franticly turned off the water and searched for a rag and a bucket. Then I started the tedious task of mopping up the water and vomit off the floor and had to disinfect everything. "What an exciting night" I thought to myself.
And then I realized how ironic the whole situation had been and that the Lord had surely allowed it for a myriad of reasons. One of the lessons I had picked out from it was that I should believe it when my kid is freaking out that her head hurts, and second, not to put my kid that has the unbelievable head pain on my side of the bed.
I also learned to have compassion and to have a sense of humor. Nat and I had a good laugh when I finished cleaning everything up. So, goodnight!
He slept so well in Acapulco. I think he's inherited my love for hot weather.
He loves getting his diaper changed & being naked.
He's getting so chubby, it's so cute! I'll weigh him in a few days but he already has more chub than both Lily and Ben did at 3 weeks.
¡Feliz Cumpleaños Papa y Mama! Los quiero muchísimo y doy gracias al Señor por haberlos escogido para ser mis padres. Gracias por todo lo que han hecho y sacrificado por mi. Espero que algun día mis hijos sientan por mi el mismo amor, respeto y admiración que siento por ustedes.
Te queremos mucho Laury, y te deseamos un año nuevo fantàstico, lleno de aventuras, emociòn y progreso en tu servicio al Señor.
Proud Daddies!
Happy Mommies!
Meeting 'the cuz'.
Dad's prayers have been answered & Justin is getting a darker skin color (though he was very white when he was first born). He really is my little 'brownie'.
Aaron: "I swear I didn't pinch him Mom! He just started screaming for no reason."
The kids had so much fun playing with their cousins.
Such a tiny, beautiful belly. (She's 7 months pg already, please pray for the baby to turn as she's in a breech position right now.)
We had a nice brunch all together. Our table had a great view of the ocean.
Yup, he's got scrunched lips.
The kids loved Daniel & were very awed by the whole sign language experience.
It was tough, but by keeping the baby's socks on & a watchful eye on Ruth we managed to keep her from biting his toes.
Lily being silly at their hotel.
My little boys.
Our little brownies.
Thank you so much Ruth & Daniel, for making it possible for us to come see you and all you did for us while we were there. We love you and miss you already!
I just can't get over how much Justin looks like Ben did when he was a newborn. They're like twins, only Ben had long black hair & Justin's is shorter & more spread out. He makes the same facial expressions & everything.
Of course Justin was eager to claim his place as a true "Brown" child and has demonstrated incredible skill (like his brother & sister did before him) in limiting his periods of sleep to no more than an hour & a half at a time, but thankfully (UNLIKE his brother & sister) he prefers to make his needs knows in a humbler, more quiet fashion; in other words, he's not a screamer- yet, heh! PTL!
He loves sleeping with daddy & isn't as restless with him as he is with me.
One thing she did mention was that he looks a little yellow, but after we explained to her that he was probably just taking after the Chinese roots in Chris' family she understood... heh, JK!
Tanning with daddy!
Ben wanted a sling shot so they made one together & then Dad taught him how to aim for the target.
I needed some spit-up cloths for baby, so Daddy showed Lily how to use the sewing machine to make them. I was pretty impressed with their perseverance as it was Lily's first time using the machine & Chris let her do all the work. After a lot of trial & error they presented me with 4 new spit-up cloths!
My dear sweet mother! A very happy birthday to you! We love you so much and hope you like your b-day present (your fourth grandchild, made with a lot of love) heh heh. Around 10 months ago we were thinking about what your next birthday present should be and then we decided that you would probably like another grandchild, so here he is! You should come & see him sometime soon! We all miss you and love you so much Mom! Thank you for everything that you do for us here, you really are the best!
