Staying warm and cozy

I'm cold.  I'm in bed with a hot water bottle at my feet, drinking tea and happy to have fleece pajamas.  I'm hoping that it's just due to the weather outside and not actual sickness.  We're praying for health in this house.  (I hope you grew up with hot water bottles - they're great.)

Josiah had a better day than yesterday.  He slept a lot of the day yesterday as we had to give him five doses of morphine due to laboured breathing between his sleeps.  He just had morphine three times today.  It's nice to see him biting the teethers and toys he received for Christmas.  His favourite thing to gnaw on is the oxygen mask and tubing that we use for his blow by.   

Isaac received some training pants and underpants for Christmas (don't worry - he also received other fun gifts).  Surprisingly he wasn't excited by this gift and wouldn't try them on.  Today while I was changing his diaper I put the training pants on him while he was looking the other way.  Thankfully my plan didn't backfire.  He even agreed to try on the Elmo underpants and then didn't want to take them off.  I believe we're going to have to start using incentives.  He usually doesn't mind going to the potty and he's more patient than Mommy while on the potty but it's not too often that he asks to go there himself.  Perhaps Smarties and Elmo underpants will do the trick. 

Isaac has played with a Noah's Ark with a toucan so that's why he knows the word toucan.  Tonight at dinner he put the end of the orange pepper in his mouth and said, "Toucan" and then started flapping his arms (we're assuming the orange pepper was supposed to be the beak).  He keeps us laughing.  We were explaining the meaning of his name the other day and I think he likes that it means "he will laugh."

Here are two Christmas songs that I enjoy. The first, "Breath of Heaven" reminds me of the pain that Mary must have gone through.  I love the tune of the second song, "The Huron Carol", and it reminds me that the whole world changed for everyone that holy night when Jesus was born.  He was and is a gift to all.  I never want to imagine what my life would be like if I didn't know Jesus or know that I am not alone, that I am loved beyond measure, and so are my boys - forever and ever and ever.  The night can seem long and dark and God can even seem quiet but His Spirit is with me and in me and that makes all the difference (and if I prayed and read the Bible more He might not seem so quiet!)  So many people in the world suffer vastly more than we will ever suffer.  We know joy comes in the morning and we experience joy every day as God opens our eyes to His good gifts ... like well chosen teethers and a BM after three days (Josiah's BM!). 

I hope you know the love, joy, and peace of Jesus.  Thank you for your prayers! 

Blessings,

Elizabeth