He wanted to take me out to eat, and knew that my favorite restaurant serves my favorite food (Indian cuisine) on Thursdays but not Fridays, so we went out last night.  Hannah babysat the other dc and we took Noah like we always do.  Well, little Noah decided that last night would be the perfect night to be an absolute terror in the restaurant.  He wouldn’t sit in his car seat, took all of the toys I brought and flung them as far as he could, and kept hurling himself desperately toward my drink.  Keep in mind that this is a very nice restaurant and they don’t even really smile on children being there – no children’s menu, no high chairs, etc.  We’ve known the owner for about 13 years and have always brought our babies with us, but this behavior was just NOT going to cut it.  I couldn’t stand the thought of juggling a cranky 11 ½ month old while trying to enjoy my meal!  I shocked Jeff by suggesting that he call his parents (who live a few houses down from us) to see if Noah could come for a “visit.”  We have never, ever left him before but I was desperate!  They were delighted and happy to do it, so Jeff popped him in the car and drove him over – just about a five minute drive.  He was asleep when Jeff left him and only woke up about 30 minutes before we got back.  I think he thought we were in the house somewhere and was very happy to play with his grandma and grandpa! 

Jeff and I had the most wonderful, quiet, romantic, candlelight dinner for TWO and not THREE!  We could give each other our undivided attention and it was perfect.   The meal would have been enough, but there was more . . . 

 When we got home, Jeff asked me to get him something out of the bathroom.  When I walked in I discovered a hot, freshly drawn bubble bath complete with candles, a bath pillow, a book by my favorite author, a plate of gourmet chocolates, and even a cup of decaf coffee!  There was a big basket full of lotion, bubble bath, pillow spray, etc.  Jeff played with Noah while I relaxed for the longest time.  I used to love luxurious baths like that but haven’t taken one in probably two years or more.  It would have been great just to have been given all of those treats, but the fact that he collaborated with the dc to have it all set up and ready for me when we came home was wonderful!

 Jeff said that lots of people encouraged him to think about what I really wanted/needed and he hit the nail on the head.  I didn’t even know it, but I needed a little tiny break from sweet baby Noah, some time ALONE with my dh, and a chance to unwind.  I think he should get the Ultimate Anniversary Man award, don’t you?!

 I, on the other hand, am going to get the Potato of Disgrace award.  Sigh.  I ordered Jeff’s gift online and it didn’t come today!  Jeff travels a bit for business, and we sometimes travel for Hands and Hearts.  He just loves those big Belgian waffles that are served in hotel restaurants.   I bought a waffle maker when we were newly married, but it just didn’t make the same kind of waffles as those professional waffle makers that flip after the batter is poured in.  Not only that, it would take forever to make waffles for our crew with one waffle maker.  I looked online and discovered that those nice waffle makers are very pricey, but I prayed and finally found a site that was having a sale AND a rebate this month so I could get two of them for about the price of one elsewhere.  I planned to give him the waffle makers with a sheet of coupons for weekend waffle breakfasts with all of the trimmings.  Sigh.  I did get him a nice card and will have to make a little certificate or something telling him that the waffle makers are coming.  Maybe I could carve a picture of a waffle into some sort of vegetable . . . .

 There isn’t too much news on the Noah front right now.  We met with the GI doctor on Wednesday.  Noah has only gained a few ounces in over a month.  He is probably gaining then losing weight the way he has been getting sick on and off.  We have a new formula recipe using Pro Phree (I was spelling it with an “f” before) and Neocate.   He is tolerating it OK right now but is obviously queasy.  Right now we have to be content that he isn’t actually throwing up.  We are moving ahead with either a GJ or J tube.  We already had an appointment with the pediatric surgeon on August 8^th and will finalize the plans then.  Evidently at this children’s hospital J-tubes are the norm, not GJ-tubes.  The GI doctor implied that Noah would be the first one there to get the sort of GJ-tube that he wants Noah to have - - IF the surgeons agree to do it instead of a J-tube.  There are pros and cons to each kind of tube, and I am not sure how I feel about Noah being the first one the surgeons have done.  We are just praying for God-led wisdom for the surgeon to make the right choice.  The pros and cons for each tube are pretty well even in our opinion so we don’t feel terribly strongly about one or the other.

 He had his histamine test and eye tests for Riley Day this week.  The histamine test was normal, and the eye exam was inconclusive.  This probably means that he will end up having biopsies for both metabolic defects and Riley Day.  We don’t have a time set up for that yet. 

 I need to run and finish dinner.  I am going to feed the dc early and make Jeff’s very favorite meal for us to eat after the dc are in bed.  (Thai peanut chicken, in case you are curious!)  I was thinking about the things I am thankful for and decided to list the top ten reasons I am thankful for the man I married. 

 1. He loves God with all of his heart.  That alone would be enough right there, but wait - there’s more!

 2.  He is an absolutely dedicated family man.  I always know that the dc and I are his top priorities, and he makes every decision with the well-being of our entire family in mind.

 3.  He is a faithful husband in every way – faithful to his vows, faithful to provide for us, faithful to help and serve and work for his family, faithful to always try to be a better husband.

 4.  He and I share the same unusual outlook on life.  We know that most of the choices we have made in life are not the “typical” American lifestyle kinds of choices.  I know families where the husband and wife don’t see eye to eye on lifestyle and worldview, but we do and I am thankful for it!!

 5.  We share the same fairly ridiculous sense of humor.  We laugh a LOT in our house, and I will laugh with him about things that I would never share with anyone else!

 6.  Did I mention the rakish goatee??

 7.  He has a servant’s heart.   He isn’t a demanding husband and is always looking for ways to make my life easier – whether he is helping with household chores, encouraging me to go to a lady’s function at church, or whatever else he can think of.

 8.  He is a great dad.  Our children know they are loved, and they adore him.

 9.  He is creative and thoughtful.  I didn’t mention above that I love the scent of lavender above any other.  He detests the smell of lavender!  Well, that dear man went all over smelling lavender bath products until he found “lavender vanilla” aromatherapy bath stuff at Bath and Body Works.  He knew that the Ultimate Bath would be somewhat less than ultimate if it wasn’t lavender scented, but also knew I wouldn’t want to go around smelling yucky to him, so he found a lavender scent that he could tolerate.

 10.  He still loves me as much (actually, he says more) as the day he married me.  He still goes out of the way to have dates with me for dinner or ice cream or just grocery shopping, he will call me just to say "I love you," he says he would rather spend time with me than do anything else in the world, and he still holds my hand every time we go somewhere.  We really are best friends and I couldn’t imagine being without him.

 Praying tonight that each of your marriages would be as blessed as mine,

Love,

Kate

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE:  Right after I posted this, Jeff walked in the door with an armload of roses.  :-)  I didn't expect him to do anything today!!