Agua

This weekend went oh so fast!  Why is that, when you enjoy yourself, time flies?

Friday, after the boys and I woke from our naps, I had the itch to get out of the house and just do something...  I can't shake that feeling until it's met (hello, bipolar!).  Luckly, Mike obliged, and we booked a room at a hotel.  This hotel had a small, indoor waterpark, and just what I had in mind.

We packed the boys up, and everything we needed for a one night stay.  I could tell immediately on the drive there, that Aidan needed this as well.  He was busy pointing out the cows, trucks, and cars.

Soon after checking in, we were headed to our room, and Aidan's attention went right to the pools!  He made sure that we saw the "aqua", and really perked up at the idea of a GIANT bath.  :)  We still had to order food, and get something in our bellies.  So, while Mike ordered that in, I took Aidan down for his bath.

There was a kiddie pool that got a little deeper than 2 feet.  This had a small slide, and two rocking figures (one of which was a whale, and Aidan climbed right up on).  There were also three small fountains of water coming up from the shallow.  That intimidated A, but he quickly tested it out after I ran my hand through.

Aidan did test out the slide, but he came down so fast, and went under water.  I think that experience scared him a bit.  Guess this summer is a good time for some swim lessons.

We headed back up to the room for some pizza, and then Mike and J joined us back down by the pools.

J LOVED it!  He's going be our little fish.  I sat him down, and he took off crawling, and splashing.  He started a splashing game with his brother, and they were both giggling away.

At this point, A started switching between one pool to the next (under our supervision, of course).  So, we called it quits, and headed up to the room.

That night sleep was not easy to come by.  It seemed, for both A and myself.  We were all up by 4am, and decided to just pack everything up and get our shopping done.

A was cranky, and I was tired.  We got home about 10am, and I crawled into bed with A.

some thoughts...

It's been a while since last time I posted the blog... A lot of things happened in my family and at work... First of all, my dad found out that his tumor grew a bit bigger... he has went through some labworks and so far it's okay for now...  I'm not really ready if my dad pass away... To be honest I'll lost it... So does my wife... All I think about is how my boy Aidan always say Bumpa repeatedly on way home from shopping... It actually make me crying a bit outside and more on inside...once my dad's gone, how Aidan will respond? If he ask for Bumpa, what should I do? Tell him that Bumpa's not here and that he's in heave look over us?  I think it'll be tough especially for me...

Anyways move on to a bit more happy note... At work, I'm a bit annoying with my coworker Lisa over some brain farts cause mistakes... in which I had to fix it for her...Unfortunately she took few days off last Friday and she's finally back to work today with new teeth.  I hope she'll wise up and stop brain farting around and start doing it right way mistake-free.  Today is Happy Valentine's Day.  It's been a bit over 5 or 6 years now... I'm losing track of how long Sarah and I am together... At least I still remember Sarah's birthday and our anniversary date.  It's all important to me :-)   I guess I have to go now hit the sack get ready for work in the morning... It'll be my first time I work full 80 hours plus in one pay peroid (two weeks) NO MORE DAMN BAD WEATHER! I'm really hoping for early Spring so we'll get more active outside while not being freezing to death anymore...  Until then, have a happy Valentine's Day!

"Where are you?"

It's been a fairly decent day today, but I found myself fairly high strung.  I'm trying to make a habit out of staying calm and collected, but I can't seem to remember to do just that.  Anyway, I have a couple good highlights from the day, so I'm not walking away completely beaten.

I was trying to organize, and put the boys' clothes away this evening, with A walking in and out, helping when he felt like it.  At one point he came running down the hallway, towards the bedroom, yelling, "Momma"!  I replied, "Yes, A?"  His sweet little voice sang back, real clear, "where are you?"  My dear boy....he knew right where I was, but it made me realize just how well he is doing with his speech, and communication.  I'm enjoying his adorable conversations.

Jumbled

It seems we are falling behind, so I feel.  Even though I didn't intend for this to be a daily blog, I feel we're slacking.  There's just so much going on here.....  I'll share that went the time comes, but now is not that time.

January 31st

I finally finished the first chapter of my reading!  It was a fairly long chapter, but I can see why reading other women's birth stories is necessary for the book (as well as my training).  Read the first couple pages of the next chapter and really looking forward to diving in deeper.

However, my youngest child, J, has other plans for me.  It's going on midnight here, and I have been fighting with him to go to BED!  I'm giving up on my reading tonight and giving into exhaustion.  Here's to hoping J follows suit...


February 2nd

Now about halfway through my first book.  I find myself recommending it to anyone who seems to need it! I want to empower women, and take back what hospital births have been stealing from us; the right to deliver naturally, without fear and intervention.

I'm hoping to order my Doula packet soon, so I can get a head start on my "homework".  We have been saving up so I can attend the workshop this summer.  Hoping by this fall I can start working!

I feel so blessed being able to spend time with my boys.  Lately, it seems, they're growing too fast.  I hate to hinder that, but it's sad all the same.

A is grasping a lot more when it comes to communicating, and the appropriate way of doing so.  Just last night, Mike was telling me how Aidan was playing, and he decided he wanted his milk.  The cup was by Mike.  A stood up, and signed, "milk", " please", then pointed to the cup.  He amazes me...  He's behind on spoken communication, but that dear boy has two languages to learn.  All together(if we tally what he knows between spoken and ASL), he is above his peers.

J is taking his first baby steps to full fledged walking.  A couple days ago he was able to take two steps before falling.  Since then he has gained confidence in the ordeal, and standing without assistance (working on his balance, I suppose).

My boys fill me with joy and laughter everyday.  Always something to look forward to.

Mike's thinkings...

It have been a month since last time I drank a soda... It's a bit tough but I feel good about it.  Hope it's a good change in my life... Now only if I can also apply it to my eating habits... :-/  I was kinda down because I don't feel like my wife support me in no soda lifestyle  but that's okay because she's not really big on being affectionate and supportive because that's who she is.  I know that she's still drinking soda but sometimes I want her to join me in the journey of avoiding sodas for good.  But perhaps she's not ready for it.
This weekend are very rough with my boys A and J.  Yesterday A have been whining and fussing whole day... It's getting to a point where I feel like I'm gonna go psycho on someone... Fortunately today A doing much better however I cannot say same things for J since he's teething 8th tooth right now.  It seems be worst so far for J... I can only hope pain will go away faster than cookie monster eat cookies.
Today for whatever reason I feel a little down.  Spending with A might get me lil frustrated because we don't really communicate that much like A does with his mom/my wife.  I know my wife told me once to lighten up but it seem don't help me at all.  Perhaps I'm just tired to be happy for my hyperactive A who has been running around, spinning around and attempting to jump... Unfortunately he got to work on jumping bit.  It bothering me a lot that A not really learning ASL quickly like spoken English... I mean I do teach A signs but he seems less interested in ASL.  Maybe I should force ASL into him so it'll become natural to him like English speaking skill to him. Right now I'm browsing for  infos on how to teach children sign language.  I'm curious what kind of methods people use to teaching ASL and alphabet to toddlers.  I guess my worst fear is that both of my boys grew up reject my true language.  It's been on my mind a lot lately I never talk to my wife about it...
Oh yeah I applied for night job with Home Depot... Hope I'll get it so I can attempting have two jobs at same time... I might lose alot of time spending with my boys and my wifey but at least we'll get more money every month to pay bills and put foods on plate.

Doula Training

I don't think I have been so beyond excited about starting a new chapter in my life, as I am now!  Just downloaded my first reading for my Doula training, and I am already swimming in thought.  I really hope I can maintain this kind of passion through my whole study, as well as through my life.

It has been a busy couple days since I last wrote, but I don't think I intend for this blog to have something written every day.  For my sanity, and my husband's, this is just a spot for us to write what we feel, and the days that we need to muddle through.

.....J has woken, so I'm going to have to re-visit this.

My thinking is going to be over a course of a couple days now.  It seems every time I sit down to write J wakes up in such a fit.  *sigh*. I sure look forward to his poor gums getting a break, as does he, I'm sure.

I have already gotten through half my first book for my doula training.  The beginning part, and of which I still have 50 more pages in the chapter, is comprised of birth stories.  I'm finding it extremely useful to hear from so many different women on their births.  I only know the details of my two births otherwise.  There are some techniques talked about in the birth stories, but does not go into explaining the reasoning (that's saved for a later chapter).  I'm excited, and  anxious for more learning.

Both the boys seem to switch off on being extra needy lately, and it has started to wear both, Mike and I thin.  As a parent, you love your children, always.  We love our boys.  It gets hard though when your marriage starts to suffer because you spend so much time with a child, trying to figure out their feelings.

My husband and I don't sleep in the same bedroom either.  Before we moved in with my in-laws we spent a lot of time reflecting on our days while we were settling down for bed together.  This hasn't happened in a long time.  It's possible that we need to make a stronger effort to ensure that happens.

We are a very lucky couple though.  We both know, that no matter what, we love each other.  Not many in our situation can say that.

An Introduction

 I'm Mike Schaefer and I'm deaf so far since my birth.  I am married to lovely Sarah and have two boysA and J.  I'm woodworker at one company in Kendall, WI.  So far all I'm doing is making frames, tables and trays for one company out east on East Coast...  This week has been a lil busy so far for me at work.  I'm taking time making more frame stocks because we're almost out of all three different kind of wood- Black Walnut, Cherry and Paduak.  Oh boy I hate working on Paduak... Always get splinters every time I work on it... have been busy in bathroom in Bob's office because I have to use the tweezers to remove all wood splinters...  It's very discomforting until it's removed and immediately I feel a lot better.  So far my boss Bob is impressed with me and how I training new co-worker named Lisa.  She's doing good so far but still have a lot to learn... Yesterday I taught her how to use miter sled to cut frames to size on table saw.  She seems enjoying it a lot... Only if I own my own shop then I'll have so much fun doing what I want maybe make furniture for my new house...  I can only dream of winning powerball lottery :-)  *fingers crossed*

This weeknight when I'm home from work, I always end up feel so exhausted that I'm trying to take it easy spending time with boys until their bedtime...  Aidan doing good most of time... He still have a lot to work like sharing toys and don't hit James.  So far Sarah and I'm losing battle.  Hope we have faith to keep up discplining Aidan until he finally stop doing that...  It's just a question of when which I wish (and Sarah wish too) comes soon!  Yes, Aidan does playing with James once in a while... but with James finally mastering crawling and standing up without my or Sarah's assistance, it might start bug Aidan a bit.  I just hope Aidan grow out of it and become a very good loving protective older brother that James deserve.  Tomorrow I'll work at 6am until 2pm without lunch break because it's only two hours past noon so it's pointless take a break so hopefully my boys and Sarah is sleeping by time I arrive home from work so I can grab some nap because it will be a long early morning for me! :-X  So good night, folks!  Cherish your own family because you'll never know what's gonna happen tomorrow so hug... kiss... tell them that you love them...