This Friday promises to be an interesting day, as both of our children are scheduled to turn some corners, or at least that is how we see it. Due to incessant ear infections, Avery had tubes placed in his ear just over one year ago (post about it all here). But since then, the tubes have stopped operating correctly. Translation: he is presently on his third consecutive ear infection since Christmas, and has had virtually no success with antibiotics. Fine print of previous translation: he has only slept through the night ONCE since December, which is driving his parents batty. As a result, he is getting himself some new tubes tomorrow morning - which requires outpatient surgery. We are bummed that we are already back in "tube world," but if it makes him feel better, and he is able to return to his normal happy self - then the sooner the better. But we are anxious about the nursing staff taking him back to the operating room. As opposed to a year ago - he is now old enough to be very aware that he is going to a new place, with a new person, for a new experience. It could be hard on all of us. Give us some good thoughts, okay? 
And Friday also brings another turning point experience for Noah. He is taking his cap and gown pictures, per his graduation in May from Pre-K. Jessica has been working hard to pick out the perfect outfit for underneath his gown - and Noah is as excited as ever. He fully understands that this means he is one step closer to Kindergarten (which, in Noah's case, is beginning to bear striking similarities to King Arthur's quest for the Holy Grail - ie: he thinks about it A LOT ), so he is beaming (similar to how he reacts when he completes his Toy Story puzzle - see pic).
Jessica and I are actually handling all of these types of things so much better than we would have a year ago. We are talking a lot about how we must be present for the children, and be present for ourselves by really trying to appreciate how these experiences are so beautiful (especially if they mean more sleep :). We have simplified our lives so much, that normal moments in our lives take on so much more meaning and appreciation. And at some point, we realized that to appreciate it, sometimes we have to reflect on it. So, as you probably know -
both Jessica and I have always felt compelled to write about our experiences.
Jessica and I are actually handling all of these types of things so much better than we would have a year ago. We are talking a lot about how we must be present for the children, and be present for ourselves by really trying to appreciate how these experiences are so beautiful (especially if they mean more sleep :). We have simplified our lives so much, that normal moments in our lives take on so much more meaning and appreciation. And at some point, we realized that to appreciate it, sometimes we have to reflect on it. So, as you probably know -
both Jessica and I have always felt compelled to write about our experiences.And these days, I appreciate this blog even more - because it allows me to document this journey with these children, and Jessica. And the fact that this blog is open for people to read is what disciplines me to write this down. Otherwise, all of my ruminations/documentation of these experiences (good, bad, strange, and hilarious) would most likely end up (as they did for most of my life) in a handful of unorganized journals that can not be accessed (much less found) when I need perspective - which is often.
And when I think these thoughts, I usually realize, as I have presently, that Henry David Thoreau figured it out about 160 years before I did: He writes, " If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. . . . In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness." ~ Walden, 1854
Amen.
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