2023 :: week 20

May 14

Mother's Day 2023. While it is hard to believe this is my 14th Mother's Day with kids, it is also hard to imagine my life before and without these kids. They have stretched my body, heart and sanity in ways I never expected, and none of those things will ever be the same. This year Mother's Day felt a little extra heart wrenching because of my own mom's stroke last year. You always think things will go on like they always have indefinitely, but life has no guarantees, and I felt that more than ever this past year. I am very grateful for my mom and the progress she has made. Miles wasn't really feeling the post-church picture. 

May 15

Monday was the annual end of the season family verses Pink Thunder soccer practice. Will and Tony were the representatives for the John family, and though they put up a valiant effort, the Pink Thunder remains undefeated in the family games. 

May 16

Miles and Gabriel had their first official playdate that was just the two of them on Tuesday afternoon. Miles was a little nervous for me to leave without Elliott or Lauren there, but he did fine and the boys had a fun time. It is fun seeing him grow up and become more independent. Before this all the playdates Miles has been on he had at least one other sibling was there. 

May 17

Miles was up in the night coughing and even though he wasn't feverish we knew we needed to keep him home from school. I was sitting with him trying to help him rest and noticed that his breathing seemed off and his chest was retracting. I called our pediatrician who was able to fit him in for two breathing treatments within the hour. Her best guess is that he picked up a virus and that combined with allergies overloaded his system. She recommended we keep him inside the rest of the day and as much as possible over the next week. He was back to his normal self by the time the kids got home from school. Miles is the first of our four kids to receive a breathing treatment or to be prescribed an inhaler.  

May 18

After some initial disappointment that our azalea bushes didn't really bloom this year, I am loving the other flowers that are blooming in our front yard this spring.  

May 19

Elliott has had a great year in first grade. His teacher sent me this picture of Brecken, Carter, Colby and Elliott. These four have become very close this year and their silly friendship has probably (definitely!) driven their teacher crazy. 

May 20

Anthony had to work Saturday morning, so I took the kids to watch Mikey's soccer game. The Allreds came to, so we snapped a KS cousins picture. It was right next to where Lauren's team had received their championship medals the previous weekend, so she enjoyed telling the aunts and uncles about her tournament and the goals she scored. It was a busy Saturday for Will. He went on a 10 mile bike ride at SMP with the YM to prepare for their upcoming high adventure, and then played in a baseball game that evening.