This face...

The kindness and love that comes out of this sweet 4 year old can bring a smile to any ones face.  He's been saying some of the sweetest things lately just to make me smile...
~You're the sweetest girl i could ever have in my life.
~If i could'nt love you for another day it would break my heart
~If i had a fish i wouldnt eat it, i would just keep it as a pet (yes he has a fish and we've never discussed cooking it for dinner)
~You're the most beautiful mommy a boy could ever have. 
~I hope you'll be my best friend forever.
These are just a few that i wrote down over the past two days that warmed my heart.  I feel so blessed to have such amazing boys in my life.

Friendship

My post today comes from a sad place in my heart.  A place that feels great pain when a close friend feels pain.  I feel so blessed to have so many amazing friends in my life.  Today one of my closest friends lost her father.  I can't even begin to understand or know the pain she is feeling but i do know this...
She is one of the most wonderful, thoughtful, graceful women i know.  I've overcome so many of life's challenges with her by my side. We've experienced so much together.  I still remember each time we told each other we were pregnant...The joy the shock the laughter.  She's been one of my biggest cheerleaders through every tear cried and every accomplishment.  I feel so blessed to have her in my life.  Please take a moment to pray for her sweet family as they grieve this great loss.  I love you Karyn you are such a blessing your father was so proud of the daughter, wife, mother and friend that you are. xoxo

 

(Don't mind that huge belly, sadly it was the only picture i could find of us without children hanging off of us)

I Love you my Beautiful friend

Noah's 3

3 years ago this very evening is a night that changed my life.  Well, lets start a few days earlier.  It all started Christmas night when i came down with the stomach bug. (9 months prego and throwing up don't mix well) I was 37 weeks and visiting my ob and neonatal specialist every other day.  On the morning of the 27th i went in to see the specialist and was put in a room for my non stress test (i only had over 30 of them) the nurse would come in to check in on me every once in awhile and started to ask if i was feeling anything.  I said yes off and on.  She said, i don't know how much longer this baby is going to hang in there.  I had never experienced labor before so i thought well i better get ready. (I still hadn't packed a bag or prepared i figured this was my 3rd i had this)  After my appointment i went to the grocery store just to be prepared, in case this was it.  My scheduled c-section wasn't until 30th.
I went home and as the day went on i thought this may really be it.  I was hesitant to say i was in labor because i didn't want to be wrong and get sent home (everyone would think shouldn't she know this is her 3rd.)  That evening i was bathing the boys all the while having contractions that were getting stronger and closer together.  I finally decided that i would call the hospital, they wanted me to come in.  I went into Katies room (It was her 20th birthday) and told her it was time and that i had called Carolyn but that she wasn't answering.  I put the boys to bed kissing Josiah one last time before he became a big brother and snuggled my big big boy Micah.  Upon my arrival at the hospital they confirmed that i was in labor and that they would be doing my c-section that evening with just one emergency in front of me.  The contractions became stronger and i was ready to have it all over with.
Not to much longer i was in the operating room waiting to meet my new son.  I remembered the moment i saw him the first time.  I kissed him on the forehead and told him i loved him to the moon and back.  He was taken away to the nursery to be cleaned up and ready for his mama.  This was when my doctor realized that my bladder and uterus were attached and an additional surgery was required.  I'll save you the details but it was awful!
Finally i was reunited with my sweet new baby Noah.  He was so tiny and sweet.  I couldn't stop holding and kissing him.
He was and is such a happy carefree boy.  I love his constant smile, he brings such joy to everyone around him.  His giggle is contagious.
I can't believe hes 3, i really can't believe i don't have a baby anymore.  Where did the time go? I feel so blessed to have three sons.  Some days are so hard and overwhelming and i just want to cry (i sometimes do) or lock myself in a closet but they always ALWAYS find me.  They throw their arms around me and tell me they love me (Jo often tells me I'm the best mommy he could have ever asked for)
On this day and everyday i feel so much joy in my boys and for my sweet Noah's smile.
Mommy Loves you to the moon and Back

So funny, to funny...

A couple weeks ago in the evening when i was in my room before bed i received a text from a good friend.  It was a lengthy text, i thought oh no what now... I had no idea what i was about to read.  Lets just say I'm keeping therapist all over in business.  The text was just this...

 

OMG Marybeth.....I was putting Charlie to bed and he had like a smirk on his face that turned to fear when I questioned him about it.  I asked what was wrong or was he sneaking a toy into bed or something.  He said..."u promise u won't be mad?" And "u promise u won't yell at me?"  I told him to just tell me the truth and I wouldn't.  So he starts out with "when I was at Micah's for he sleepover....." I had NO idea where this was going!!!! So he preceded to say that when he was falling asleep he was facing one way but maybe should have been facing the other way....and that he didn't mean to but that "ms Satvedi didn't have many clothes on and I saw her bottom".  OMG I almost burst into laughter.  But he was mortified to tell me!! He said "I promise I didn't try to mom!"   So.....u prance around naked when ur kids friend are over? You are still too young to be a cougar! And...Jeff said he wants to come over next time too! Ha ha!  Just had to share that!!!

 

In my defense, i do not prance around naked but rather wear a very modest sleep shirt that comes just above my knee.  I also has full coverage on if you know what i mean.  Also, i have no clue how the child saw my bottom but can only guess that when i stood on the bunk bed to kiss Micah goodnight Charlie looked up and had a clear view of my fully covered bottom. He's 7 people! It's a sleep over.  Parenting boys isn't going to be easy, i can tell!

I still laugh every time i read this or even think about it.  If you knew my sons friend you would laugh too.  He's so sweet and kind with a side of spunk.

Happy Monday!

Preparing for the Holidays

We've been busy preparing for Christmas and all that it brings.  The next few weeks are full of lots of activities programs and so much more.
This week is going to be super busy for the boys and i which will just lead into another busy week.  I've had a little time to myself this weekend to try to prepare for it all but i've spent most of my time resting.  Micah has his first real school project due this coming Friday and he has to practice his presentation a lot to be ready.  I think i'm more nervous than he is. 
Wednesday Micah is excited to be part of take your teacher to dinner night (i am not because mini golfing with 3 small boys by myself does not sound fun to me) Which leads to Thursaday when all 3 of the boys have dental appointments followed by Josiah's pre-schoool holiday program.  I'm sure i'll have lots of pictures and video to share from them both. 
On Friday morning bright and early i'll catch a cab to the airport to visit with my sister.  I'm super excited to see her and am looking forward to some time together.  I wish the boys were coming with but next time.  Since i'm leaving Friday (the same day as Micah's presentation, the trip was planned before the project) i'll miss Micah's send off before his big presentation, but it could be for the best since i might make him nervous.
It will be nice to be with my sister before i return on Monday for my biopsy.  (i share more about that on simplyme) 
I also have lots of planning for Micah's class holiday party to finish up.  Not to mention the Christmas shopping that needs to be finished.  Gifts i need to wrap the list just goes on...
I'm super excited this year because the boys and i will be spending Christmas day with my aunt and her daughters.  They will be visting Chicago for the holidays, they couldnt be coming at a better time.  It's been a long time since i've spent the holidays with my family.  I look forward to my boys playing with the girls.  I also look forward to catching up with my aunt.  Katie and Nick will also hopefully be in for a visit as well.
Micah is super excited this year for our family pajamas because he helped pick them out.  I have a feeling he'll want us to wear them a bit more often than we have in the past. 
We're less that 2 weeks out, here's hoping i finish it all.

I don't even know where to begin, it's been over a year since my last entrance on this blog.  A lot has changed in a year.  The boys have grown so much.  Micah is now 1/2 way through his year of 1st grade and Josiah, pre-k.  Noah even started PDO this year 2 mornings a week giving me some free time.  I sure do wish drop off was a little easier with those boys, Never fails the boys never want to get out of the car at drop off.  I often have to roll my window down and call for back up extracting the boys from their seats.  Micah on the other hand runs to the bus and doesn't look back.
As the boys grow older I'm beginning to see how my role in their lives is changing some.  I've been doing a lot of thinking about what I'll do when they're all in school full time.  That's just 2 1/2 years away!  I'm not really sure if ill return to teaching pre-school/pre-k (i really did love it) or if ill move in a completely different direction.  I have lots to figure out in these next few months or so.  But, for now I'm just going to focus on these sweet boys.  Hopefully more to come as things start to settle.

Rubix

As many of you know Rubix passed away a few weeks ago.  I'm still trying to accept it, the boys still ask questions so i wanted to take some time and share a little about our Rubix.
Rubix was actually a birthday gift that i gave to Allwyn.  We had talked about getting a dog for along time, and since we were moving into our house in the burbs it sounded like the perfect time.  I didn't tell Allwyn but i started looking and eventually found an ad for a 10 week (or so) rottweiler.  I called the girl and she said that her boyfriend had given him to her and that she was leaving for college and her parents wouldn't keep him.  I decided to go look at him.  I took a friend with me.  I got there and first thing he jumped on me.  He was so wild.  I remember telling her, Okay I'll take him.  I told her i would come back the 22nd to pick him up so i could give him to Allwyn him for his birthday.  I ended up coming home and telling Allwyn all about my surprise.  He was shocked that i had made this decision without him.  He was also a little worried because we had busy moved into this newly built house.  I told him that the dog was so cute and his name was Cuz-O. We knew we were going to change his name before we even picked him out.
It was a week before we picked him up.  When we brought him home we decided to crate train him, and not allow him on the carpet.  There were a few times that i called Allwyn and i told him that i was done and that he needed to get rid of the dog.  Rubix was a puppy full of energy.  He eventually calmed down.  We worked out butts off to train him, but it was all worth it.  He was amazing and So So special.  He was so great with the boys.  I remember when Micah was born we brought a blanket from his bed home before we brought Micah home so he would be ready. He was great each time we brought a baby home.
He was also so great at watching out for us.  Every time the door bell rang he would be right there trying to see who was there and letting them know he was there.  Everyone was always so scared of him but had they stayed around they would have realized he was just a big baby.  When he became to big to sit in our laps he would still try but his head was the only part that fit.
There will always be stories about Rubix he was just that special.

Silly JoJo saying goodbye to his buddy, i still cry when i look at this picture. Rubix was so sweet, Jo hugged and kissed on him and Rubix just let him.