The plague and Super Dad

O.k so a plague may be a bit of an over exaggeration but my gosh these last two months have been no smooth ride in the health department for the Steinberg's. Benjamin caught the 24 hour bug a few weeks back and being the good sharer that he is, gave it to Korban and I. 24 hours and done. Last Sunday Benjamin caught another bug! He was so sick to his stomach and it happened so fast that I thought he ate something that did not agree with him. And by something I don't mean food, this boy puts everything in his mouth and it drives me crazy! The following morning as he is puking once again, My 3 year old mater of factually states, "It's probably those red berries from the tree he ate yesterday." Good to know! After researching pepper trees on line, I finally call the poison control just to be sure I shouldn't be doing something else for the little guy. If you don't have the number in your phone now, then here it is you may need it- 1-800-222-1222. The wonderful vomit stopped after two days but the endless diaper changing continued. I kept thinking, "well this is what it will be like to change a new born again just maybe not this bad." But after 4 days of him still not being all better and losing his stomach once again in the car (always fun to change your toddler on the side of the road) I was growing concerned once again and called a nurse from Kaiser. Now that I am sure you had enough details and probably don't want to eat your next meal, I think it is good for all to know that there is a very nasty virus going around which described Benjamin s symptoms to the T. And once again he so lovingly shared it with Korban and I. I don't think Daddy catches it so much because he is gone most of the day. But this time Josh was able to be home to take care of us all. And I am so thankful that he was! He got up numerous times to tend to our Korban boy and rush him to the sink, change his bed 3 times and jammies, and just tried to get us all comfortable and better. He gets a gold star for sure. If he had been gone this weekend I don't know how I would have managed not being barley able to get out of bed myself. I'm learning too that even in these little things like the stomach flu that tend to worry a mother to no end, I need to trust God for healing. Because really, it is just the flu, not a plague.

Picture Trap

Recently our Pastor let the whole church family know that he wanted to make a photo directory. This way people could put a face to the name if they were looking for someone to contact within our fellowship. This is the first time our church has ever done something like this and not as many as we had hoped were excited about it. I mean, you feel like you have to get all spiffy and look all smiley and perfect right? There was also the perk of getting one free 8 x 10 of your portrait and the option to purchase any other pictures you liked.
So our day came to get all spiffy and smiley, or at least hope the boys would be smiley. Josh and I were trying to get them all excited about it and kept reminding them that after we were done we would go somewhere fun for dinner. I am not totally against bribery. I like to think of it as more of an incentive to good behavior? Anyway...on our drive to the church Josh and I agreed that we were not going to purchase ANY extra photos. We would kindly be firm and stick to our decision. The photographer checks us in and begins to snap some pictures of our suddenly very photogenic Benjamin. I mean, he was working the camera! Toddler magazine, I have your new model. I kept thinking to myself, "Nice lady, I know what you are trying to do. You are going to take all these cute pictures of our kids to lure us into your photo purchasing trap. And we walked right into it. Granted the clincher was some of the Funny ones and cute ones that our boys posed for.
I know, he's choking him right? Thank goodness he was not actually squeezing and most parents would probably be upset or embarrassed if their children behaved this way for a picture but we were cracking up because of the fact that Benjamin was smiling while being grabbed by the neck from his silly big brother. I think this needs to go somewhere special on our wall, don't you? Christmas card maybe?


All in All, I'm glad we got the CD with all the pictures. There are more and I may even have to find out about some that I think may be missing because I distinctly remember one of Korban where he looked like he was posing for an Ambercrombie and finch underwear/jeans add.
The boys were good, everyone smiled and had fun, and we went to Wendy's....all dressed up;)

November 2, 2011

Did you ever have that feeling that something big was going to happen? So much that you just couldn't shake the feeling? Lately I have felt this way, well I felt this way back in September but I continued to second guess myself thinking that it was not God putting this on my heart but my own self niggling thoughts and emotions. November 2 confirmed everything for me. I had just stopped by Josh's work with the boys so they could say hi to daddy and then continued on to the grocery store for milk and TP. I had this odd craving for Stuffed grape leaves and Kraft Macaroni and cheese. Weird I know! Who eats those two things together? Immediately I decided that I would buy a take home pregnancy test and find out what was really going on. So there were a few more things to my shopping list. I had taken several tests already a few weeks before do to that niggling feeling and they all were negative. We were not trying to have a baby yet and I kept saying that I really was not ready but somehow I still felt bummed and disappointed. With the boys locked out of the bathroom and preoccupied....for a short time...I did the fun little test and really really really could not believe my eye's! Two little lines. So I take another one from a different brand that I forgot I already had and it too was positive. O.K. Kristina now what do we do with all this excitement? You can't tell Korban because he will tell everybody and Your husband is busy at work.....Benjamin can't talk yet so I will tell him later. The other cool part, sometimes I think I forget that God is always there. He is there in my Joy, sorrow, accomplishments, everything. So I shared my joy with Him. The boys were in bed and I cracked open my Bible to the place I had last been in Psalms. It was Psalm 128:3, 4 "Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed, who fears the Lord." O.K God I'm listening, I believe you now and I am sorry for doubting this joyous news.

The day could not go by- any- slower. I waited until the boys were in bed to tell Josh. So I showed him the psalm and waited to see what he would say. He did not say much, but that it was a neat Psalm. "I'm pregnant." Pause...." What! How?" was his shocked and surprised answer. Nothing makes me tear up more than seeing my husband tear up, let me tell you.

We did not want to tell anyone until Christmas and when I was further along. I had this whole plan in my head of what Christmas morning would be like breaking the happy news to my parents and in-Laws and catching it all on video. Grandma reactions are the best and to have it on video is so fun. But God new better. He knew what would happen on the 15th of November just after Josh left the house for Men's Bible study. I called him in tears, fearful that I was losing the baby. I was not sure what to expect and thought it would be more painful than it was. How do you put on a happy face for your children when your very heart is breaking? Josh came home and comforted me, we prayed....a lot. I felt in my heart of hearts that this baby was so meant to be. I made it through the night and things seemed to be improving but there were still signs of a problem. Kaiser was great and fast at arranging to see me ASAP. My Mom-In law came over at the drop of a hat and took care of the boys so Josh and I could head down the hill. I don't think we said more than 5 words the whole time, just quiet. After being stuck with a needle and sitting in a waiting room for some time, a nurse called us in. She asked a few questions and seemed perplexed at my answers which kind of made me worry. It usually is not good when a nurse or doctor has a perplexed look on their face right? Then Dr. Vera Stuckey comes in. She was a God send....really. She learned we were Christians and said that she was too. She knew what we were going through and comforted us with a few Bible Verses that God has given us for encouragement and understanding. You see, I thought I was only 5 weeks along since I had my lovely woman week about 6 weeks ago. So her, thinking the same thing was preparing us for the worst seeing as how the baby would not even be able to give us a visible heart beat yet, and for the best that it could just be nothing at all. I was afraid to look at the screen, so I looked at my husband, head down in his hands praying. "Huh?!" Says Dr. Vera. "Looks like you are further along than 5 weeks, there is a heart beat!" Praise God thank you Jesus was all I could say. We were so relieved! There was our 8 and a half week old baby, one inch long and with a strong heart! We left the hospital that day with such joy and thanksgiving. She told me though that situations like this can be 50/50 until I am past the first trimester so I had to be careful not to overdo anything or lift anything too heavy and to try to take it as easy as one can with two little boys.

Needless to say I feel like the baby is thriving off all of my cravings and I am coping with nausea every day which I have to say is probably a good sign that things are doing what they are supposed to be doing. So June 8th is the due date and I seriously feel like it is right- around- the- corner. So please pray if you think of us, it would be very much appreciated:) Do we want to find out? No. We are going to make everybody wait until June....neener neeener:)

God made dirt...

Lately I have been trying to find new ways for the boys to have fun outside but not go running off to someplace on the property where I have to chase them and/or cannot see them. It's like turning two young colts loose into a pasture....they are bound to get hurt badly on something the moment I lose track of them. The solution to my problem....a big pile of dirt. Yes we do have a sand box off our back bedroom which they do enjoy but some days they just need to get a little more dirty....
So what if I had to strip them down to their skibbies before entering the house and put them straight into the tub....it was so worth it. God made dirt and dirt don't hurt:)

Catch up

We are well into fall and summertime already seems sooooo long ago. Much has happened and much has changed since our last personable post way back in, oh lets say....July!? Sheesh.
Remember ode to Bookie? Well the bookie made a comeback, but just at nap time. I tried having Korban go without it for weeks. Night time was no problem, he is tired anyway. It is the day time and I hate to say and or admit it but I think he is just growing out of naps. He is just three and still needs it so much! Needless to say he is doing better at nap time now but still takes a way shorter nap than he used to which selfish me says is not enough time for mommy rest.
My dear Benjamin....he is not forgotten and I refuse to let anyone tell me it is "Second child syndrome". Honestly he just has me a whole lot more busy than I ever was before! He is 15 months now which is hard to believe. He had a blast on his first Birthday with cake and all our little friends and cousins. I have to say he destroyed that cake, it did not stand a chance!
Obviously it was a cowboy theme and it was so fun to do! We had paper mustaches, cowboy hats and scarfs and sweets galore. I may have over done it in the sweets department with the smores cupcakes, chocolate and caramel sprinkle covered apples and drumsticks for the grownups. He is such a big boy and his determination to do anything and everything his big brother does is very strong. He has a stubborn streek and a scowl that I should have been privy too way back when...

Yes he still makes this face and very pointedly says "Nah" which means no. Unfortunately he learned that from me having to say no to Korban or himself after touch the oven for the 13th time. Baby steps, we are working through it:)

Goodness what else! We went on vacation which included a combination of Seattle and Hawaii. First stop was Seattle to visit these two little munchkins:) Samantha and her new baby Sister Hailey and there mommy and Daddy Paul and Mary my Brother and sister in law. It was kind of funny because Seattle usually does not have clear blue skys and 80 degree weather but we were lucky enough to be there for it!


Then off to Kona Hawaii. I love this picture, a daddy with his boys. They had so much fun playing in the water! Gosh, it already feels like forever-a-go!

And now here we are...in fall with real fall weather of all things! And snow on the mountains?! Really? I have a feeling this Christmas is going to be so much fun and full of new memories!

Maternity and Baby Threads

Hello to all! While rummaging through my many craft bins and doing some extended spring cleaning, I came upon some clothing that I had finished and never tried to sell.. Well it certainly does not do me any good keeping them stashed away. Hopefully you will find something you like for yourself or someone you know that has a baby or is expecting. All the baby clothing is $10.00 and the Maternity jeans are $40. All the baby clothes are 100% cotton and I only have one of each!

These maternity jeans are a size medium with a long length leg. We all feel a little dowdy and plain sometimes during our pregnancy so I hoped that these would make a "mamma to be" feel a little more dressy with a tiny bit of bling;) I made extra sure that these iron on appliques are fastened with individually hand attached crystal beads to give it that little bit of sparkle. Selling for $40.00

This Baby girls onesie is a 24 Month size . It comes in Lavendar and reads "Vintage Baby". It is one of my favorites!

This is an 18 month jumper for a boy. It reads "Count your Blessings".

SOLD-This baby girls soft pink onesie is an 18 month size and is printed with the fruits of the Spirit from Galations 5:22.

This little boys blue onesie is size 6 months. It reads "Mr. Fixit" on his tool box.
I have yet to come up with a name for my little creations but God is at the heart of it.
Message me if you would like to purchase any of these items or would like to try on the maternity jeans.

Love,
Kristina

Ode to Bookie

With Korban turning three we thought it was time for him to say sayonara to his beloved bookie, AKA the pacifier. It did not really dawn on me until pondering what to write but giving up his bookie was asking a pretty tough thing of him. I mean, imagine having to give up something that you are used to being attached to from the day you were born. It was there to comfort you through teething pain, scraped knees, missing mommy and Daddy when they went on a date, and soothing you to sleep when sleep was hard to find. It was probably like me having to give up coffee when I was pregnant. I looked forward to it every morning and loved the smell of it, taste of it, and just the warm comfort it would bring. So having to stop cold turkey was not easy at all. So I began to limit Korban to just nap time and bed time. That was not too hard and he did not protest too much. I told him that he better enjoy bookie while he can because once he turns three he would be too big for it and it would break. Now you are probably thinking, "what a mean mommy! Lying to your boy like that! " Don't worry, I would not lie to him. It did "break". Mysteriously some scissors found their way to bookie and well....I'm sure you can figure out the rest. He actually handled it quite well and even showed Josh when he came home from work. Korban very matter of factually said,"look daddy, my bookie broke!" He never cried or argued about it. He did very nicely ask for it a few times though. But Most children can be won over with a new little toy car if they can sleep through the night without it. Nap time however is another story and I think this is where I am kicking myself in the hiney. He has had such a hard time taking naps without his bookie. Even still I know it is best for him. It is all part of growing up.