A Croupy Halloween

First thing to do at DD Ranch

A recovering Jonah

A little glimpse of our fall in a nutshell. There was some major up moments and some major downs.  So we are coming out of it "Even Steven." Of course, one of the greatest traditions we enjoyed was visiting the pumpkin patch. There are two pumpkin patches to visit here and they are 5 minutes away from each other and I have confused them before. We went down with the intention to go to one of them. The Smithrock Ranch. But with the thousands of cars in the parking lot we switched gears and went to the DD ranch one. We had gone to the DD ranch last year when my parents were visiting and loved it. We loved it again. It just has a real country feel to it. I am no farmer but I appreciate the farm life apparently. I like the chickens wandering around as well as the old farm dogs, and the little folk band playing. It's delightful. This year there was a man who was making balloon transformations right as we walked in. We let the boys pick out what they would like. Josh and Rowan both got themselves swords and sheaths and Kaj asked for a dog. He loved this dog more than I knew. I did know when the hind balloon legs popped in the car on the way home. Kaj burst into tears. He was legitimately heart broken. I had to remind him balloons pop and "look- he still has his other legs." Before the ride was over the balloon dog was just a head and Kaj was holding the sad balloon remains close beside him. He drew a very accurate drawing of the balloon dog when he got home. It was pretty sad and sweet and honestly a little  humorous all at the same time. 

The past 2 weeks have been sick filled. Sam was the original owner of the sickness. As soon as he felt the sickness come on he slept on the couch so not to get Jonah sick. Very thoughtful I thought. For a week Sam felt lousy and just as he was pulling out of it...Jonah was sick. It has been a very hard past few days. Jonah had croup so it has been more sleepless that when I first brought him home from the hospital. 

We did all go trick or treating around the neighborhood Halloween night. I dressed Jonah like the cutest little monkey ever and carried him in the Ergo until I had to hurry him home just to make him more comfortable. Rowan was hilarious as Ironman, and Kaj and Josh were so sweet. They said thank you to everyone, and wished them all a Happy Halloween. I was very thankful to have such polite boys. It was that night when we got home that Rowan started coughing. (NO!!!!) So Monday night I got even less sleep and woke the next morning to have Rowan Jonah sick. There was A LOT of crying that day. Me included. In public too. That was nice. If you cry in public more than once--it's a pretty bad day. Where?? Oh, at the doctor's office and the grocery store. The doctor's consoling words saying this stage of motherhood is "a hot mess," and then at grocery store where people just stopped to just stare for a minute. Move along people. When the check out guy still asked: "How are you doing today?" I just wanted to say: "Really??" I don't know if I have ever been so much on the brink of sanity or plain running away ever before. Sam came home and calmed down Jonah who had been crying for over an hour straight and told me to take a walk which I desperately needed. I cried some more. But, miracles happen and I got some sleep that night. I felt a million times better today, and so happy. The boys are both getting better, I got to straighten my house even do some light cleaning AND I took my Halloween decorations. (It's really the little things) I have to mention the things I am thankful for in this. I am so thankful that Jonah didn't get more sick. With how young he is it could have been a lot worse. I am thankful that Sam was feeling better. I am thankful that Kaj and Josh were so concerned and sweet and helpful. They are really good boys. Today I was happy to be at home with them. 

Not sure what to think of the sword yet

RIP balloon dog

Cutest brothers