The Tilma Family Blog

Going From Two to Three

// April 21st, 2009 // 1 Comment » // All Blog Posts

Since JD came along a few months ago, I have been asked numerous times what it is like going from two kids to three. I was never able to really answer that because I just didn’t know exactly how to describe it. But, as with many, many things, given enough time, clarity eventually rises to the surface. So here’s my take on it:

The difference between going from two to three kids is going from “constant” to “constantly constant.” There is a difference but it’s the same kind of ongoing commotion you experience with having two kids; it’s just a bit more amplified in a slightly different way when the third child comes along. I can only imagine that adding a fourth child would look something like “constantly constant consistently” and that going to five kids would simply be “just insanely constant”.

With each additional child, your management of “constant” becomes crucial to the ultimate success of your parenting. I have learned through trial and error, success and failure that you can either be “crazy constant” or “controlled constant.” The ultimate difference between the two at the end of the day is how much anxiety or genuine peace you feel in your house despite the hectic “constantness” of your day.

I never knew…..

// April 15th, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Family Updates

I never knew before I had kids:

• that getting into and out of the YMCA with 3 kids would take just as long as actually working out
• that there are really 12 mealtimes a day
• that you can indeed function, sometimes even quite well, on less than 3 hours of sleep and several cups of coffee, several nights in a row, even weeks in a row if necessary
• that everyone sleeping until 7 am is “majorly sleeping in”
• that baby wipes are incredible stain removers
• that packing up to go anywhere just for a few errands requires a rather large suitcase of necessities for “just in case”
• that I would actually enjoy watching “Aladdin” for the 20th time just to hear our kids squeal with delight
• that being a mom day-in and day-out would be my greatest challenge and my greatest joy all at the same time

“DOO – SMASH”

// April 14th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Family Updates, Sophia Grace

The other night we took a family trip to the YMCA. After working out and enjoying some alone time together, Dave offered to leave early and grab some movies for us to watch later. What a great idea! I gathered my stuff and headed upstairs to pick up the kids. All was great – the kids were in great moods despite needing supper and we all headed to the elevator. Sophie has a new- found curiousity with elevators lately and wasn’t quite ready to get on upon our arrival to the door. But we all jostled inside eventually and the door closed behind us while I pushed the elevator button to head downstairs. Suddenly, I heard extreme shrieking. I quickly scanned the kids to figure out which one was in pain and realized Sophie’s fingers were stuck in the elevator door! I tried to push the “open door” button and pry the door open myself but nothing happened. It was too late, the elevator had begun to move. I felt helpless; time slowed to a screeching halt; I couldn’t do a thing to get her fingers out and envisioned her poor little fingers crushed forever. Just then, the door opened – but not the door I needed to open. It was the door on the opposite side of the elevator that opened!  I did what any scared desperate mother would do – I yelled for help only to be met with very little to no response, even though several abled bodies were within eyesight. I shot the “if you don’t start running over here within one fraction of a second, I’m going to seriously make your life unpleasant” look that I reserve only for very desperate circumstances. Just then, Sophie pulled her fingers free from the door. I quickly prepared myself to expect the worst before I looked at her tiny fingers. To my complete amazement, they were fully intact, bending and moving despite being a little red – praise God! In just a few moments, Sophie calmed down and we began to pack up. I held and kissed Sophie and asked if she was ok – to which she responded in the cutest yet most pathetic little voice, “Doo(r) – smash!”

Thanks for Stopping by our Blog

// March 16th, 2009 // No Comments » // My Portfolio

We’re glad you found us.  The Tilma Family–Dave, Becky, Hudson, Sophia and JD–say hello!  We just moved to Madison, WI and will be planting a church there soon.  This site is just a little window into our world and journey so far.

Random Fact

// March 6th, 2009 // No Comments » // All Blog Posts, Family Updates

The average person living to age 70 has 613,200 hours of life.  

That is so much time and yet so very little to live a meaningful life. What will your 613,200 hours be spent on? This week, Hudson and Sophie chose to spend a good chunk of their hours dressed up like ballerinas!

The New Miracle Cure!

// March 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // All Blog Posts

Seriously. Anyone with children has probably experienced this for themselves. I have experienced this myself with Hudson and Sophie at different times but it still amazes me. Have you ever taken a child into the doctor – or even urgent care – convinced that something very serious was going on only to have your child heal amazingly quickly upon arriving at whatever medical facility you have decided to take them to? Yesterday, out of the blue, JD started coughing and wheezing in the middle of the day. It sounded much like the croup so I didn’t think much of it other than making sure he wasn’t getting any worse. Of course, come about 6 pm last night, JD seemed to get much worse and my mothering instinct told me I should at least call a nurse to ask their advice. Upon hearing him cough and breath over the phone, the nurse said I needed to bring him in right away. Thus, JD and I were off to the after-hours clinic. Upon arriving, however, JD instantly stopped coughing and wheezing. No cough, nothing – just cute little JD, seemingly in perfect condition. The doctor was very nice, told me I was not crazy and sent us home. Of course upon arriving home, the cough and wheezing began again. We made it through the night and all is well again with JD. Next time, I think I will just drive past the clinic, maybe that will do enough to cure whatever is ailing my children at the time!

For all our TX and Non-Midwestern Friends….

// February 15th, 2009 // No Comments » // All Blog Posts

Here is a glimpse into WI weather…..now who wouldn’t want to live here!

All In A Day’s Work

// February 13th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // All Blog Posts

Sometimes I literally laugh out loud at the circus that parades through our house at the most random points in the day. I have to laugh, otherwise I might cry. For example, just this morning, here are the random things that occurred all at the same time as I attempted to get one 5 minute phone call in to schedule a conference call with a family that may consider being part of our core group:

Dial phone – phone is ringing….Sophie trips and bangs her knee on the floor…..check for blood or other serious injury……phone still ringing….JD begins to cry and appears to be hungry again after just eating 1/2 hour earlier….Voice on other end of phone says, “Hello?”…..Sophie is sniffling but now off and doing who knows what (I think to myself, at least she is occupied briefly)…..I begin the phone conversation with JD in one arm, head severely scrunched over to one side trying to hold the phone between my ear and my shoulder, and my other hand mixing a bottle…..Hudson runs out of her room almost naked but clearly upset that she cannot find her ballet outfit….Sophie chasing her…..Sophie trips again this time hitting her head but again no blood or obvious serious injury….I attempt to continue the phone conversation (thank goodness it is with another mom of young children)… JD is eating….the house is very quiet, too quiet….I quickly discover that Sophie is in the bathroom wiping diaper rash cream all over her face after she apparently painted the vanity with princess toothpaste and Hudson is dancing half naked to Mozert in her room…..I pretend nothing is wrong as I finish up my phone conversation very very quickly….JD begins to cry – he needs to be burped….that’s my cue, I hang up the phone and collect myself before having to scold Sophie for getting into things that she should not be getting into….Sophie hears me coming and attempts to get rid of the evidence but falls off the stool and hits her elbow….more crying but no blood or serious injury….JD still crying and I seriously wonder if I will ever be able to make a phone call again in the next 5 years.

Love This Psalm!

// February 11th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // All Blog Posts

The Psalms are filled with such encouragement and wisdom. One of my recent favorites is Psalm 18, verses 28-30, “For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God-his way is perfect, the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”

Big Sisters

// February 6th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized