So this is where this week finds us so far...
* Austin seems well so far!! No fever, runny nose, bad cough or screaming episodes for about 5 days now...yippee!
* I am in the midst of some busy weeks for us. Mostly it's due to doula work and commitments--but I am also helping give a "Mother's Blessing" shower for a friend who is expecting her 5th child in about 6 weeks, have some friends coming over this week, Shea's dad us coming to visit this weekend, Austin is out of school next week for spring break and I have client due in about 2 1/2 weeks! This past weekend I taught a mini doula workshop and it was so fun! I love teaching/speaking/leading on the things that I am passionate about it---its just flows so easily!

Some reflections on life over the past few days...
I have had lots...but let me start with some pressing ones. Last Friday, Austin and I wens to Jessica's to spend the night. Her husband has been working out of town a lot on the weekends so we thought it would be fun to have a slumber party. We fed the boys, gave them a bath together, ate junk food and dessert and then it was bedtime.
Jessica and Caleb's bedtime routine: drink cup of milk, read a story,lights off, rock for a few minutes, place Caleb in said crib with sound machine on,Jessica leaves room, Caleb cries for a minute or two--then goes to sleep.

Lesley and Austin's bedtime routine: nurse on the couch in front of the t.v., Austin gets up and quietly plays with toys on the floor, Austin needs drink with ICE, nurse again on the couch, Lesley drinks wine while Austin sits in lap, nurse once again and finally Austin falls asleep almost 2 hours after Caleb went to bed. Put Austin in bed with sound machine, and an hour later he wakes up and needs to be nursed back to sleep again. ( granted he was in strange room and was quite disoriented!)

My point is--its really easy to feel discouraged and tired when most nights are like this. Some say I have caused it myself, some say I am enabling it, some say...well people say everything! The point is it does not matter how or why it happens--it just does! This week I have started trying to break Austin of night nursing ( again...we tried this before but then he got sick and it totally messed it all up!) I held strong this morning ( early mornings--4-6am are his prime nursing times) and we will see if I can stay strong. I want to, I really , really do...its just what will win out--Austins strong will, my strong will or my exhaustion!

I am praying that this becomes easier every day...but history with Austin has not shown that when we have tried to make big changes like this.
We shall see!!