Things are looking up!
- We have secured a babysitter. Dad’s hospice nurse’s daughter is actually coming tomorrow to watch the boys for a few hours! I was so nervous to post something online (Facebook) asking for help – I didn’t want just anyone watching the boys – no matter how bad things got I really needed to know they were in good hands and I’m confident in our choice!
- We got more formula. We made a trip of it. Craig got off work early so we could load up the boys and head to town. Now before you criticize me, the boys stayed in the vehicle at all times. They ran through the Culvers drive thru while I was in the store. I ran in to Walmart to get some essentials and to stock up for the next few weeks – COVID 19 thankfully hasn’t hit here “hard core” like it has in other areas of the state/country but I want to be prepared. A friend of mine from New York posted a video of her waiting 2 hours in line JUST to get groceries because they wold only let so many people in the store at a time. You’ll recall in my last post I was so anxious about getting Gannon’s right formula as they aren’t even shipping online orders. I got four big cans today, more diapers, they finally had baby wipes in stock and quite honestly, we are ready to be shut in for a good month. I feel much better and semi-guilty for “stock piling.” Judge if you want, I’m responsible for providing for our family. I tried to do it the right way and only buy what I need but I wasn’t actually getting what I needed (formula for example) that way.
- Carver got a BIKE! I got a bike for my birthday when I turned three and I rode it EVERYWHERE that summer. I was at Walmart and just threw it in the cart on a whim. I needed to know he had an outlet if they close down playgrounds and streets. I can kick him outside and we live on the outskirts of town so he can ride up and down our driveway. He’s still pretty new at it but he’s catching on!
- We did two whole miles on our walk tonight after our run to WalMart. Carver was HILARIOUS the whole time – full of questions and quirk. Everything was funny and a game. Mom says we should record him and make a vlog out of all the funny things he says on our walk. It got misty and pretty dreary towards the end.
Then towards the end of our walk, we saw this:
The doors are down, all is quiet but we do stand ready. On Wednesday, March 25, at 7:00 pm ALL IOWA FIRE DEPARTMENTS are encouraged to open their doors and turn on the lights on their trucks as a sign of strength and hope for all. Hope for all who work daily in EMS, Fire and Law enforcement to be ready, strength for those working around the clock to provide care, those who strive to find the right medicine to help, those in the food/grocery industry to feed us and those trucking daily to keep us going.
You can do your part at home, too! Turn your porch light on…Let us all know you’re fine and have hope. We ask all with red, blue, white or your department colors…Light ‘em up and turn them on. Maybe just maybe, we’ll create five minutes of smiles and peace.
We seriously have the best community ever – Watch this video:
So I get to enjoy THAT meal tomorrow night at work 🙂 Lynch Companies make up most of the business in Waucoma and we’ve known the Lynch family my whole life. What a great group of people. I definitely feel appreciated and my spirits were lifted before I head into another stretch of work.
I joked earlier last week about how I was going CRAZY with the boys all by myself. Now that we’ve adjusted, (don’t get me wrong we still have our moments), I’m so thankful to be at home with my boys. With such uncertainty, mom and I are both well aware there may come a time that I need to be living separate from the boys because of my exposure to the virus and the high demand at work. I’m soaking up all of the time I have with them while I have them close.
On a final note guys, my heart BURST right open today.
Gannon still doesn’t have any words yet at 13 months. We’ve been pushing sign language for things like “more” and “please” for months now with no real sign it was doing anything. I had left the fridge open today and Gannon crawls up to it like he always does, pulls himself up, points to the cheese slices and does sign language for “please.”
I say “Do you want cheese!?” And he giggles and does the sign for please again! And then devours that cheese slice. Guys, it’s the little things. My Gannon Jo, you can have as much cheese any day you want!
YAYY!! SO anyway, thanks for reading. Through the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between, you guys are the best <3
So happy for you!!! There are so many small things to be thankful for! I read on one blog where someone had put quarters in all the little toy and candy machines!
I love reading about Gannon’s progress. That’s great he now has his first sign! My daughter had one word she rarely used by 21 months old when we started speech therapy and I can remember when she used her first sign (open). It was mind blowing. She could finally start communicating with us to get something she wanted (without having to point/scream and hope for the best). She’s now 2.5 and has hundreds of words and strings up to 8 word sentences together so don’t be discouraged, even though Gannon has no words now he has plenty of time to catch up. I wish we would have started signing with our daughter as young as you have started with Gannon.
You make my heart swell to hear you’re in such a better place. With respect to Gannon formula , what you’re doing could hardly be called more than being prepared! He is limited in what he can eat so having supplies is being prepared.i love hearing about his progress. Thank you for all you are doing.
Good news on your front – what a blessing to hear that things are going better for you. Prayers answered! No, it sure isn’t perfect, but you know what? It’s the little things, right? We Google Duo’d with the grand kids last night and boy did that lift my spirits!
Love and prayers
I’m so glad you were able to get some formula and extra diapers to have on hand. Those are really necessary when you have a baby at home. Its crazy in the grocery stores in TN and I’m thankful that we can manage without any trips to buy for at least another month. Its so sweet to Carver on his new bike, how exciting for him and what a great way to spend his time at home, tooling around. You and Craig are doing a great job and I’m glad today is a better day for your whole family.
You have a “special needs” child with Gannon still. I don’t think buying a month’s supply is out of line and would encourage you to keep at least 2 cans on hand at all times. Depending on how the situation gets, you might contact your formula maker and explain the situation to them and they might be able to sell/provide it directly to you. Our daughter started talking at 7 months and has never shut up. Our son was nearly 3 before he talked much and at 27 is still a very quiet person. We found out when he was 5 that he was almost totally tongue tied. We still laugh about “Dr. Baker”/Darth Vader. Keep an eye on the situation but don’t fret over it either.
Oh that i so cool. Cool that you were able to stock up, find a sitter, a bike, and Gannon expressed himself w signs!
I am so happy for you!
I’m glad you’ve stocked up a bit. I live in Massachusetts, and the store I’ve been to since this all started has limits on certain things — 1 toilet paper (if you could find it), 2 milks, 2 dozen eggs, 1 liquid soap…so if you haven’t gotten to the limiting point yet, it’s worth getting a little extra. We have enough milk for the moment, but if I can only get 2 when I go and I’m trying to go LESS than once a week…2 won’t be enough for a week. 🙁
What a weird situation we are all in! I do have stuff like evaporated milk to use in a pinch — we’re really trying not to make trips out. We live in a tiny suburb, so it’s still very safe to go out for walks — plenty of space for keeping distance!
Hang in there! It’s very exciting about Gannon signing. It’s so neat that signing helps them communicate before they’re good at speaking!
Reading your post makes me so happy…good for you taking charge and stocking up to take care of your family!! Just like everyone….Life ebbs and flows! You do your best always. Thanks for sharing! Praying you all stay safe!
Well obviously you and Craig are spectacular parents! The boys are happy and healthy – one rides a bike and one starts to sign all in one day!!! You make my heart sing.