Being sick and learning to be positive

So last week I said I'd be back to give an update on rubbing eucalyptus oil into the kids feet before they sleep at night. Well it has worked WONDERS!!! While they still wake up, it is not from coughing fits. I even tried it two nights ago (because I got this thing just as bad as the kids :( ) and I never coughed once. Not ONCE! The whole night, and if you had heard my voice or even been around me this last week you would know how amazing that is. The kids are almost all the way better, and I'm finally feeling more normal. I still have a little cough, thanks to mucus, but that I can handle. The sinus headaches and inability to function...not so manageable. 

I am so thankful that this weekend was Conference. General conference (if you would like to watch or learn more about it click HERE) in and of itself was wonderful, as always, and motivated me to be a better person. But also it was great because Devin was home without work or school. He was such a blessing to have home this weekend because I was so very under the weather, it was horrible. He is the most wonderful husband. I am so lucky to have him. He works so hard on his studies, and puts in more hours at work than I think he really has time for, so that he can provide for us. He gives US more time than I ever expect. And still he is happy, and kind, and patient with the kids. So much more so than I am. I don't know how he does it, but he is wonderful and I am so grateful my kids get to have him as their dad!

I'm learning, so slowly, how to be a mom. Some days (like today) I wonder if I have learned anything these last three years?? My kids fall to pieces and instead of patience and love, I give them a frustrated and angry Mama. Some days I don't know how to deal with the fits, and the constant whining. I know I need to be more kind, but in the moment (or whenever they start yelling, "mama, mama") I cannot find any kindness, not even an ounce of it in me. I'm not looking for pity or sympathy, I'm just writing my frustrations because the kids are sleeping and this is very fresh on my mind. 

On the positive side, we do still have fun! I tried to get out or at least do something fun while we were sick so that we didn't get cabin fever staying in and watching movies all day. 

I saw a cute idea on a blog I follow about making poplar trees! The lady was doing it for a Monet artist unit with her kids but I just thought the activity would be fun!

Here is Cole trying to figure out the scissors, worked hard with him on it, he is still too young to get the entire concept but he still enjoyed it for a minute.

 Gluing the tree trunks on...he's showing me the glue he got on his fingers.

 Didn't really look like trees i guess?

 Lucy just cut and cut and cut at her trunks :) She really likes cutting.

 Trying to show Cole how to use the 'brushes'

 Now he's got the idea

 After Cole was all done with his Lucy was ready to put her trees together.

 She was pretty careful about where she wanted each one placed

 These brushes were awesome! you take a sheet of foam and cut slits down one or both ends, roll it up, tape it and voila! you've got yourself a fun little paint brush!

 Lucy's finished picture!

It was a fun thing to do and the kids really liked it. I am learning to try to be more positive. Trying to hi-five (figuratively) myself for the times I am patient and kind, and not beat myself up so much about the times I am not so nice. 

I do love my kids. I have wanted to be a mom all my life, and while it is so much more challenging than I ever expected it to be. My kids make me a better person, and I wouldn't trade them for anything!