Twenty minutes before his party was supposed to start, he fell asleep…

We woke him up just after everyone arrived and the party began complete with “sprinkles” as he wished!

While everyone sang Happy Birthday to him, he had this look on his face…
Of course he went straight for the blue presents FIRST!

We had an enjoyable night celebrating Cohen’s third birthday with our family!

Cohen is such a sweet little boy and we love him so much! He loves his older brothers to death and is slowly getting use to the idea of having another little brother around! He loves getting up each morning (sometimes still in his PJ’s) and riding his little red bike. He can belch on a whim and laugh at the simplest things. He continues to be a Daddy’s boy, but hopefully loves his “Mama” too. We hope you enjoyed your birthday buddy!

After being home for two days, he was still not acting like himself. We took him to the doctor and sure enough, he had a major sinus infection. He was started on an antibiotic and is finally starting to act like my sweet little Cohen again. Yesterday, while I was doing dishes, I heard him laughing while playing with an old toy. Immediate joy filled my soul and I realized he truly was just sick and wanted some attention from us because he didn’t feel well this weekend! I felt bad because I was bitter over him being so needy and emotional.

I’m glad he is starting to act like himself again!

However, Colby and I now have a terrible cold. I can’t wait until I can breathe through my nose at night and not have to suck on a cough drop at 3 am.

I suddenly realized it would be cute to have Cohen be one of the “Lost Boys” and searched for a skunk costume. Miraculously, my sister-in-laws friend had the cutest skunk costume and said we could borrow it! I was thrilled!

Three costumes. Three Hours. Done.

When I was about 8 months pregnant with Cohen, I realized I was going to have a newborn baby soon and his nursery wasn’t finished. I had sort of a vintage theme that I wanted for his room and I was hoping I could find everything I wanted to make it perfect! I knew without a doubt that if I didn’t get it all painted before he was born, it wasn’t going to happen for a long time! I had envisioned what I wanted his room to look like and I was excited to get it finished! I spent three days painting by myself (without Colby’s approval) and one day with my mother’s help measuring and taping off the stripes on his wall. When it was finally painted, I was so excited! It turned out just like I wanted it to! Now the decorating part…

The crib was an old crib that I also found on a yard sale site. I bought some red gloss spray paint and went to town painting that as well. It turned everything in my garage red from the paint dust, but it was completely worth it! I loved it! I bought fabric and with help from my wonderful mother, she helped me sew his quilt. She also sewed his bed skirt! She is amazing! I wish you could tell, but the top of the bed skirt (that sits below the mattress) is grey and white polka dots. I bought the chevron fitted sheet from Pottery Barn Kids.

In the corner of his room I put together and painted these spice racks from IKEA and used them as bookshelves instead of spice racks. I sort of stole this idea from my sister-in-law Tana. I loved the way they fit perfectly on the wall.I found the white refinished dresser on a yard sale site. It was just what I was looking for to be used as a dresser as well as a changing table. There were a ton of drawers and it was already refinished the way I wanted it to be, which meant less work for me to do (just what I needed at this point). My dad made the drive to Santaquin a few days later to help me load it in the truck and lift it for me. I used the old changing pad from when I had Easton and put a white cover on it. I found the basket for his diapers/wipes/lotion at Hobby Lobby. I also had some of these baskets in his closet along with some grey ones.
I’m a sucker for a good sign or phrase! I decided to do just a random wall of frames and sayings by his closet. I actually just recently purchased the I love to you the moon sign from Swiss Days a few weeks ago. I have another red frame I still need to hang in this space, but haven’t had any time to finish that. All of the portrait pictures in his room I took and love! It’s no secret (if you have ever been in my house) that I love LARGE prints of my family and kids throughout my house! The yellow desk I refinished several years ago and didn’t have a place for it anywhere in my house. I thought it fit this space nicely. I replaced the knobs on the drawers to add some pop of color and incorporate the red from his crib and the stripe on the wall. The red chevron rug I actually made a few years ago to put in Trevin & Easton’s room. I decided it fit Cohen’s room better so I moved it into this space instead. Now the coolest part of his room, in my opinion, is the worn leather chair in the book corner…
About two weeks after Cohen was born, we went to visit my Grandma Colene at her cabin in Hobble Creek. After being at her house for a few hours, the boys wanted to play hide and seek. When I went in the backyard to find one of them, I noticed this old red chair with a plastic bag over it. When I asked my Grandma why it was outside she explained my Grandpa was getting ready to take it to the dump. I was shocked! It had a few flaws, but it was absolutely perfect for Cohen’s nursery. She went on to explain this chair was actually her first husband’s chair. I never knew him, but I thought it was special that it was his old chair. I wanted the chair badly but didn’t want to step on her toes. My Grandma was curious why I asked about it and I explained Cohen’s nursery and the theme of his room. She offered it to me and I kindly accepted! I couldn’t wait to get it home!

Tonight I begged Colby to let me capture their wrestling on video. He hates pictures and especially videos, but tonight he let it slide. And I’m so glad he did.

You can watch the video HERE

You can view a small video I put together HERE with assistance from my sister-in-law Tana for shooting some of the footage for us!

Fast forward to this week:

Cohen was diagnosed with pink eye in both eyes, Trevin has been coughing his guts out (so he stayed home from school today), and Easton continues to have nose bleeds, a low grade fever, and just acts like he doesn’t feel completely himself. I was the only one who attended church on Sunday because of the illness that has been spreading throughout our family this week. Trevin seemed better yesterday and went to school. We kept Easton home. The coughing started up again last night around 6:00. I gave the boys some medicine and sent them to bed. Around midnight Cohen woke up. Colby rocked him back to sleep and came back to bed. We could hear the other two in their beds coughing off and on. My mind raced. I drifted back to sleep. Around 4:30 Cohen started crying again. I got out of bed, grabbed the thermometer, some Tylenol, and made him a bottle. He had a low grade fever, but appeared to be relaxed and comforted in my arms. As I held him for a moment, I couldn’t stop staring at him. After a few minutes I gave him the Tylenol and fed him some of his bottle. He didn’t eat much before drifting off to sleep again.

Before heading back to bed, I noticed the lamp was on in Trevin & Easton’s room with the door cracked open. I had a strong feeling to check on Easton. As I walked over to his bed, I noticed he was laying on his back with a long piece of toilet paper draped over his face. His pillow was covered in blood and he has blood down his neck and all over his lips. I tried to wipe it clean the best I could without waking him. I burst into tears. Why didn’t he come get me? Why does a little three year old boy have to deal with being comfortable cleaning up his own bloody noses? Why does this keep happening? To make matters worse, I noticed his nose had been bleeding out both sides this time and he was actually gurgling blood in the back of his throat (gross I know, but it’s the truth). After turning him on his side and making sure his nose had stopped bleeding, I cleaned his face the best I could, took the tissue, repositioned him comfortably in bed, and walked back into my room with tears in my eyes.

It hit me like a ton of bricks that tomorrow I should probably call Dr. Rosenbeck and make an appointment for Easton. I quietly woke Colby up and told him about Easton. I prayed that I might be comforted and be able to get some sleep without “over analyzing” the situation at hand.

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Today came.

After getting the boys their favorite bowl of cereal (Waffle Crisp) and making sure Cohen was okay, I texted Dr. Rosenbeck about Easton asking if he thought he needed to be seen. He suggested we should definitely draw a CBC to see what his platelet count, etc was. The day began with the boys all at home. I thought about showering and getting ready but somehow I couldn’t get myself to do that. The laundry was started, dishes cleaned, and the boys were watching some morning cartoons. While making my morning rounds around the house and picking up here and there, I walked into the boys bathroom to find a bloody mess there as well! The sink was covered in blood, the waste basket full of bloody tissues, and the toilet had a few drops of blood as well. It was clear to me that Easton had definitely been up during the night and tried his best to stop his bloody nose without waking anyone.

Throughout the day, the boys struggled listening to me, made some pretty big messes, and woke Cohen up three times. Cohen was miserable and wanted to be held all day long, Easton and Trevin played pretty well together, but were extremely wild. My house became a disaster despite my efforts to clean up as much as I could. That shower I had planned to take this afternoon never happened. Dinner was actually in the oven, but the kitchen was a huge mess. My Relief Society Presidency showed up (I forgot they were coming today) and I was still in my PJ’s with crying/wild kids. We talked for a few minutes and then I apologized for forgetting they were coming and having them see us/my house the way it was.

The second they left, I called Colby and began to cry asking him to PLEASE COME HOME. I couldn’t take it any longer.

The oven beeped and dinner was ready. Almost. I pulled the Chicken Roll Ups out of the oven and set them on top of the stove. I started a burner to hurry and make the sauce. Because I was in a hurry and holding Cohen, I turned on the wrong burner. Before realizing my mistake, the Chicken Roll Ups were burned on the bottom and the sauce was still cold. Again, the flood of tears came rolling down my face…

Colby walked in the door a few seconds later and saw me crying. The boys said they were sorry for making me cry and for not listening today. I did my best to try to ease their pain and explain I was just stressed and burned the dinner. I hugged them both, told them I loved them, provided them the unburned part of the pan for dinner, and walked into my room and broke down in front of Colby.

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I realized there is nothing better than being a mother to three of the sweetest boys in the world. I came to the conclusion that no matter what the CBC shows on Easton tomorrow, I can’t change it. I am praying for good news, but clearly my mind had been thinking the worst throughout the day. The rest of the night, I found myself looking at my children differently.

These things make my heart swell with gratitude and happiness:

The way Trevin tries to comfort Cohen when he is sad. Easton’s giggle. The way Cohen smiles and kicks his feet when he sees me walk towards him. The way Cohen fits so perfectly in my arms when I am holding him. When Easton say’s “I love you this much” with his arms stretched all the way towards his back. Or when he say’s “I love you Mom…to the the moon and stars and back.” When Trevin writes little letters to Colby and Me with his cute Kindergarten handwriting and misspelled words. When Easton pops popcorn and uses the “magic button” on the microwave that pops the popcorn perfect every time. I love them. All of them. Including my amazing husband. To the moon and stars and back. And back again.

Tonight I wore my emotions on my sleeve and let my thoughts get the best of me. I was thinking the worst for Easton without even knowing the results of his blood test. However, I am beyond grateful I had these thoughts and emotions overcome me. I looked at my life differently. I realized for a few hours, whats really important in my life. I noticed the little things in my kids that I tend to forget in the busy life we live. Instead of worrying about a messy kitchen from dinner, I popped popcorn and watched a movie with them. I held them tighter and loved them longer. I had more patience. I really, enjoyed the moment instated of just being there. And for that I am grateful.

Trevin and Easton were beyond excited to help me with Cohen’s bath. Trevin gathered the soap, washcloth, and the soft brush while Easton picked out his pajamas. With four extra hands helping me bathe Cohen, it seemed a little stressful, but I enjoyed every minute of it. I could see the excitement on the boys’ face being able to help as well as finally have their brother home.

By the end of the bath, Easton was really tired and drifted off to sleep on the couch. Colby took him to bed and tucked him in for the night. Trevin explained that he needed to sleep in our room so that he could help Cohen if he woke up in the night. After talking to Trevin for about twenty minutes, I realized I wasn’t going to be able to convince him to sleep in his own bed. He said,  “Mom. You need your sleep too. I will wake up with Cohen so you can sleep in the night.” My heart melted. We laid some blankets on our bed and let him drift off to sleep there. He is bound and determined to be the best brother in the world!

On a more personal note, tonight I couldn’t be more grateful and thankful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with three beautiful healthy little boys. After seeing some family members go through some very hard times trying to have children of their own, I know I am extremely blessed to have the children I have and to be trusted in raising them/teaching them the way my Heavenly Father would want me to. They say three children is a HUGE challenge, yet I am excited for the challenges we will face. As far as tonight goes, life is wonderful, and I am extremely blessed with three instead of two!