Say Cheese!
Adorable plush mini camera c/o Yellow Heart Art.
You know those nights when you have a plan.
A plan neatly laid out of all the tasks you are going to accomplish in one evening.
And you’re actually looking forward to staying up late and tackling said tasks.
You’ve even held off on giving your 3 year old a nap so that he will go to bed earlier.
And you’re confident that your newborn will sleep well throughout the night because he has been eating like a champ all day.
All you’ve got to do is take the boys to their pediatrician visit,
pick up a baseball glove for your toddlers first day of t-ball,
make dinner and then put the kids down for bed.
The plan is solid.
Golden.
That is until it’s not.
Until it turns to mush.
Crumbles.
Because life doesn’t go according to plan when you’re a Mom.
It’s part of the deal.
Because sometimes when you’re a Mom you forget things.
Like how your newborn will be getting 4 shots at his next visit,
so naturally he won’t be having plans of being his usual peaceful self in the evening.
Or how a visit to the doctor sends your three year old into a downward spiral of hysterical sobs and temper tantruming.
And then you get the news that you’re perfectly happy and sweet and “breath of fresh air” newborn has a unique condition called Laryngomalacia.
And while the doctor thinks you have nothing to worry about,
you can’t help but feel a bit nervous when he tells you he wants you to take Sawyer to an ENT for further examination.
Because one of the common symptoms of Laryngomalacia is sleep apnea.
And you’re not really sure you’re prepared to tackle that again.
But the last week has given you much to be grateful for,
so you walk out of the doctors office with a hopeful heart,
full of faith and thankful for the many blessings of health that your family has been given.
You even haul your cranky newborn and your sobbing toddler to the sports store to pick out a t-ball glove.
With a smile on your face.
Because even when your day doesn’t go as planned,
life must go on.
And even if you spend you’re evening wedged between your two cranky babies,
taking turns consoling one and then the other,
while your husband pulls an all nighter at work…
Even then, you count your blessings as you type out your blog post instead of tackling your planned to-do list.
Because this is just another day as a parent.
This is what you signed up for.
And you could sweat the small stuff,
or you could smile while wedged between two snoring babes,
counting your blessings.
And tonight, I’m smiling.
What hasn’t gone according to plan for you this week?
P.S. We have our appointment with the ENT on Monday. I’ll keep you posted about what he says.
Holly
Prayers for Sawyer! Enjoy your boys being little enough to want mommy snuggles! I keep hearing that changes one day:(
Jamie
I love your perspective on things. Sometimes the hardest and best thing is to keep going like normal. Good luck!
Ariella
I really needed to hear that post title tonight…it can be easy to forget it during less significant moments in life (what I’m dealing with). Hope you’re boy’s ok……best of luck.
Megan
Awwww! With Olivia teething (again) this post is DEF hitting home!! GL with Mr. S at the Dr!!! I hope everything goes well!!
Alyssa
Awhh! Best moments! What a sweet little smile he has! (:
Jenna Crowell
This post is perfect, I am a military wife and husband has been deployed for 7 months already!! I also have 3 kids ages 3 and under. Sometimes the big picture is all that matters!! Your post was a great reminder 🙂 Hope your little man is okay!
Rhiannon
Prayers for your sweet Sawyer.
I love your perspective on it all and your “push” to keep going.
After four kids I’ve nearly given up on planning how things are going to happen (or how I would like them to happen). It’s easier to just go with it, hope for the best, and try my hardest to keep a smile on my face…a sense of humor helps too (there are some parts of being a mom that you just can’t make up!).
AbsoluteMommy
Spoken like a mom of 2 kids. You are so right. This post sounded like many of my days. Thanks for always reminding me to live in the now.
Gabrielle Hansen
I love it! And when the doctor tells you to not worry…as if that’s possible! Way to keep your chin up! A couple hours ago my babysitter cancelled for tomo, the one day she was coming. Mama was looking forward to a few hours off! Not in the plans but oh well, right?!! I’ll just go extra heavy on the diet coke! Good luck with the dr appt!
Bettina
I hear you on this one. Sometimes not making plans is better. When you get anything done then it feels like a miracle. Hope all works out with Sawyer.
Jenny
You have a great attitude about life and being a mother of little ones! Your blog has been so refreshing and has helped me to keep in mind what a special blessing it is to take care of such sweet little souls even though it can get overwhelming. These are the best days of our lives, no? And I hear they’ll be gone all too quickly. Good luck with the ENT on Monday. I had a baby this past April who also has Laryngomalacia. It was severe enough that she needed to have surgery…at 7 weeks old. Not fun, but it was a quick surgery–10 or so minutes–and her breathing was SO much better right away! It was such a relief. There’s also a few reflux precautions we take with my daughter because spit up can irritate her throat and exasperate the condition, even if it’s in small amounts. Basically, I was a mess with worry about all of this, but everything worked out and one of the best parts is that my little lady will have no memory whatsoever of any of it, well, besides the dozens and dozens of pictures I took…oh and the blog posts 🙂 I hope your little guy is okay and the ENT gives you some peace of mind as well as a game plan for how to proceed. If you ever have any questions or want to chat with a mommy that’s been there, shoot me an email. We’re all in this crazy thing together, right? Again, good luck. Thanks for being such a great example. You are a rock star momma!
Sarah
Doesn’t it seem like this is everyday! Especially with a new baby and a toddler, I couldn’t relate more!! Good luck a the ENT 🙂 You’re right…don’t sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff!
Audrey Crisp
Oh man… Such as the life of a mom. I haven’t showered since Monday and haven’t left the house since Monday to do errands I’ve put off for weeks. Oops. Then your Baby gets sick and then you do naturally…. Haha. Your boys are so cute! Hope the ENT visit goes well!
Natalie
Will keep Sawyer in our prayers! Hope it all goes smoothly! I always like the saying God laughs at plans…especially because he has other ones for us.
Anna
Absolutely agree!!! Nothing compared to yours – Last night I came home having everything planned out, how I’m going to cook dinner – clean the house, then finish on the dress I’ve put off for 3 months now. As soon as I got home, my head started to spin and my hands trembled. I told hubby to take cover with whatever we can get out in the kitchen for the kiddos to eat. We ended up with THE BEST instant noodles ever!!! What I do with the kids after prayer and right before bedtiem and we started to count blessings for the day – all always end it with “and best of all, I get to spend time with family!!!” I love it because it helps them re-count their moments in the day that touches their hearts or it is when I remind them of those moments.
Pam
Your boys are so lucky to have such a great mom. You remind me so much of myself when my kids were little. I am a mom to four, three are now in college. You are in the trenches right now and it is physically and mentally exhausting, but it is also wonderful and fleeting.
It is so wise of you to realize that unmet plans (and expectations) are really nothing compared to the beauty of healthy babies lying next to you. I love that you look at the good even in a difficult day. Believe me, it will show in how adaptable your sons will be later in life. You are doing a great job. Hang in there. And as my mom would often tell me, ‘This too shall pass.”
Enjoy those beautiful babies!
Koren
Both of my boys had stridor and they both outgrew it with no complications. Fingers crossed it goes the same way for your little peanut!
Jennifer
I’m sorry! It really stinks when days do not go as planned. I have those often! You just get done what you can and hope that tomorrow will be better. I try and think of one thing that day that did go right and count my blessings! I hope your little boy has a good appointment on Monday! Prayers sent your way 🙂
Aleyta
You are not alone! Nothing has gone according to plan for me this week and it’s made me a ball of anxiety! You are so positive, way to go mama! xxoo
Shirley Lupton
Those dimples on both of the boys is adorable, you just want to squeeze them. It will get better and we will pray that things will go ok with Sawyer.
Jill
as always your posts make me feel that I am not alone and neither are you! I pray for your little one and this week certainly has been one of those weeks where things don’t go as planned. I wish I could be as positive as you:)
Erica
Bless you Ashley for being able to make lemonade out of lemons! This is a feat I have yet to tackle, and an area very close to my heart that I struggle with sometimes daily. With 3 little ones it is hard to remember that our lives revolve around them and their needs, wants, and schedule-not us! You always know how to not make me feel like a bad momma-but rather a momma who just has bad days! Praying for baby Sawyer’s ENT appointment 🙂
Siobhan
I’m a mom to three, 2 boys, and my princess girl. I’m also wife of a doctor and yes we had our first two kids in medical school. I remember spending many days running around wearing myself thin, only to get to the night time completely and utterly exhausted. Many nights my hubby wouldn’t get home until late at night and my kids are not easy to get to bed. Often I would have a boy on each side of me in MY bed,reading yet again the same beloved bedtime book. Before I would know it someone would be kissing me ever so softly and then taking a little boy off to HIS bed. I used to think those days were long and hard, but now I realize that there was so much more lined into those days. Those days were lined with love. Thanks for helping me remember those special times. Nice to see that someone living 40 mins way from me has similar experiences.
Michelle {the Momma Bird}
You’ve got the right attitude my friend! Just keep on truckin’ on – right?! Or here in the UK – keep calm & carry on 🙂 I will life little Sawyer, as well as you, in my prayers. God’s got this – just give it all to Him.
xoxo
Breezy L
I just recently heard of a new baby monitor. One that might be helpful with a sleep apnea baby. It’s a pad that the baby actually lays on and the monitor is sensitive to movement. Extremely sensitive to movement. The alarm on the pad will only sound when it detects no movement such as breathing. So it might be comforting to have something like that, to know if he stops breathing.
Jess
Awwww! My heart goes out to you! Our first had that and it freaked the living day lights out of me…so much so we ended up at the hospital on new’s year day because I had spent the night before NOT sleeping because he had this wheeze when he breathed. thankfully, the dr. made it a non-issue and since his was a minor case that he’ll just grow out of it. Which he did. But still, I did not sleep well until he was like 8 months…and still breathing. Oi! That’s so great that you and your dr. is on it and already taking the steps to care for your lil’ guy. It’s a rough transition to jump to two…no matter the age gap! But it WILL get easier and you will relax into the new normal soon! xoxo
Nelly
Love love love those little hats!! Where did you get them???
Claire
Awww, sending you love and hugs, your right life has to carry on even when things are going a little crazy …
Sending you and your family love and hugs..
I shared this post, a coffee date, about things not going as planned …
http://polkadot-pretties.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/coffee-date-on-my-heart.html
Claire x
ashlee
http://www.chop.edu/service/airway-disorders/conditions-we-treat/laryngomalacia.html I found this link online as I must admit I did not know what the said condition was, I relieved to read that most kids outgrow this and it is not a serious condition for most babies 🙂 Love your blog, love your spirit. I am only a 20 year old-childless-nursing student but I check for your blog everyday, so thanks for being that piece of sunshine in my busy immature life!
Jodi
Love your posts. Hope your doctors visit goes well today. I know how scary it can be when the doctor tells you that your child may have something. It took the doctors many months to figure out what was going on with ours. In the end my son was diagnosed with Laryngomalacia as well. We were told he would outgrow it around 1. (When he was upright and walking) Sure enough at 1, it was gone. Best of luck to you and your family.
Leonora from Yellow Heart Art
holy cow ash I give you so much credit. I believe we’re around the same age (28?) and I still feel like a child at times, I can not imagine raising 2 kids right now. Seriously, you’re amazing. I know for a fact I would probably bang my head against a wall for sweet relief, but you just seem so cool calm and collective. If the time ever comes for me to have children I hope I am at least 1/2 the woman as you are!
and oh my gosh look at lil sawyer with my plush!! AHHHH I can’t take it. Can I keep him?
Kassi @ Truly Lovely
Such a good attitude to have Ashley! 🙂
Jess @ The Colorful Ones
I love how honestly you share your life… I pray that God takes care of your little men (and your sanity!) as you figure out the medical stuff… nothing in our family’s lives has gone ‘according to plan’ … I actually just blogged about that this week (you can check it out here: http://www.thecolorfulones.com/2012/09/the-accident-part-1.html … 2 years ago we were moving into a fancy new house and had our whole lives ahead of us – then a near-fatal car wreck hit us (well, my husband at least) upside the head like a 2×4 and sent our perfectly planned future into a tailspin. It’s taken 2 years to get back to a place of somewhat-normalcy, but God has big plans for our family – we just know it – and we look forward to seeing where He takes us … not IN SPITE of the unexpected changes in plans, but THROUGH and BECAUSE of them… 🙂 God Bless!
~Jess
So, about my break - - Little Miss Momma
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