Summer Break

For the past two weeks the boys have been with our parents while I've recovered from an umbilical hernia surgery. I have enjoyed getting rest.

When Faith was a week and a half old I developed a terrible case of mastitis. I wrote about it in a previous post. I thought I was going to wean her after that and for two weeks she was bottle fed. I longed to breastfeed my baby (much to my surprise). So I decided to try breastfeeding again and was able to do so successfully. I think some (or maybe much) of my fatigue was due to my illness. Since then I've actually been on antibiotics additional three times because I developed early signs of Mastitis. Faith is four months old so that's one round per month. In addition to Mastitis I've been treated for Thrush. When questioning why so much difficulty with breastfeeding this go round I can take my pick of possible contributors. When I Google reasons for developing Mastitis, almost all the reasons apply to me.

After my second (much less severe) case of Mastitis, just after Easter, I sort of gave up on "preschool" with the boys and declared it summer break! Daniel was and is still served through Babies Can't Wait with Speech, Occupational, and Developmental therapists, but I discontinued a rigorous (for me) therapy routine with Daniel. We may have done a craft here and there but mostly I've kind of sat around with the kids while they play and they've watched a lot more TV than I'd like to be the case.

Thankfully this was around mid-April so the school teacher in me feels like it was almost a complete school year. I began a preschool routine with the boys in August, much inspired by the fact that I was learning how to "mommy" two toddler boys with very different needs one of whom needed first to learn that I'm mommy! So routine was a must. But by mid April, my body gave out.  

While being treated for an abscess (due to Mastitis) the surgeon noticed I had a very small umbilical hernia. Though this was just a minor outpatient surgery, I've been restricted from lifting the boys so our parents have graciously kept them while I've recovered. While they've been gone I've slept during Faith's nap time! I've read. It's been so good to remember how much I enjoy reading. I've gotten into the Chronicles of Narnia again. They never get old. Also I ordered Future Grace by John Piper. This one will take me a while to get through as I'm taking it slowly...even if I include one small section at at time with my devotionals. It's a worthwhile read. I've prepared for this coming school year with our three. I guess you could say that this will be the first year I "homeschool." I've ordered our material and am excited to begin preschool activities in September. I think I'll post about what we ordered because I absolutely love skimming through curricula! It's a passion of mine.

As for now, summer continues. We have plans to swim, swim, and swim some more. Joshua's birthday is coming up this Saturday. He asked for a tractor cake again, so a tractor cake he gets. We plan to go to Lego Land next week. Hopefully I can post some more about that.

I'm looking forward to seeing our boys Friday! I miss their faces and their energy...even if it does wear me out.