Mom sent this to me a little while ago - this is great!! I had to add it. I WILL save this and watch it throughout the day for energy (if I can come up with the energy to LISTEN to it)!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Put in perspective!!
After I finished the video Mom had sent, this video came up - GRAB SOME TISSUES!!:
I hate when Paul is out of town, and so do the kids! But, he is usually gone for a week or less at a time. It is SO hard, knowing how my kids take it when Daddy is gone and how excited they are when he gets home! This broke my heart for all of the families that have loved ones away in the military, especially the kids! It really puts into perspective that our Daddy is not at war and is not gone NEAR as long as these Daddies! I worry about him, he isn't in the safest job, but compared to WAR...
I could never be a military wife! I just don't think I could do it. I applaud the men and women serving and their families that had to give up their loved ones, some for months or years, some for a lifetime. I continue to pray for you all and hope that there are MANY more reunions like this one.
I hate when Paul is out of town, and so do the kids! But, he is usually gone for a week or less at a time. It is SO hard, knowing how my kids take it when Daddy is gone and how excited they are when he gets home! This broke my heart for all of the families that have loved ones away in the military, especially the kids! It really puts into perspective that our Daddy is not at war and is not gone NEAR as long as these Daddies! I worry about him, he isn't in the safest job, but compared to WAR...
I could never be a military wife! I just don't think I could do it. I applaud the men and women serving and their families that had to give up their loved ones, some for months or years, some for a lifetime. I continue to pray for you all and hope that there are MANY more reunions like this one.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Andrew's Dr Update
It has been a really long day!! The kids were out of school today for parent/teacher conferences, so between all the kids being home, two appointments with teachers, an appointment with a principal and a drs appointment - yes ALL the kids went to ALL the meetings - I am EXHAUSTED!!!
I am going to skip the P/T conferences and safe them for another day - just don't feel like typing all of that, and it is lengthy (and honestly, I don't really want to think about it right now!). I am just going to post about Andrew's appointment and call it a day!
He has gained....drumroll please....almost ONE WHOLE POUND in TWO WEEKS!!!! HOORAY!!! PARTY!! This is actually a huge stepping stone because it means that we go back in a month instead of every two weeks!!!
We have not really changed anything the last couple of weeks, so not sure WHY he has gained so well this time, but WE WILL TAKE IT!!
She did not have the results from yesterday (I was afraid that would happen) but she said if she was concerned about anything she would call me. She asked what I was told during the test, as far as results. I told her about the ligament in his tummy that was 'out of alignment', but that they watched him for quite a while and determined that he was processing food okay. She said that if he does in fact have a ligament 'out of alignment' that could explain why his reflux is so bad, and why it is worse sometimes than others. She said the ligament could be twisting and kinking and making it hard for food to pass by.
She upped his dosage of Prevacid, because he finally reached the next weight brackcet for it. He gets a whole pill a day instead of a half! She told us to start giving more food, and more variety. I asked if he could have yogurt, and she said yes and asked if I thought he would like that. I told her I let him taste a smoothie (which I make with yogurt, a little juice and fresh fruit) and he LOVED it, but I didn't want to give him anymore than a taste because of the dairy. She said since he was doing fine with the formula that is cow-milk based, he should do fine. She told me to also give him some ice cream if he liked it, because it would beef up the calorie count (he has already tasted that too - and likes it!).
Needless to say, I was quite excited and relieved when we left the office!! If he had not gained enough to make the dr happy this time, we would have started testing for different things. The Upper GI was bad enough - for me and him!!
Thank you to EVERYONE who has been praying for Andrew!! I amazes me the power of prayer!
I am going to skip the P/T conferences and safe them for another day - just don't feel like typing all of that, and it is lengthy (and honestly, I don't really want to think about it right now!). I am just going to post about Andrew's appointment and call it a day!
He has gained....drumroll please....almost ONE WHOLE POUND in TWO WEEKS!!!! HOORAY!!! PARTY!! This is actually a huge stepping stone because it means that we go back in a month instead of every two weeks!!!
We have not really changed anything the last couple of weeks, so not sure WHY he has gained so well this time, but WE WILL TAKE IT!!
She did not have the results from yesterday (I was afraid that would happen) but she said if she was concerned about anything she would call me. She asked what I was told during the test, as far as results. I told her about the ligament in his tummy that was 'out of alignment', but that they watched him for quite a while and determined that he was processing food okay. She said that if he does in fact have a ligament 'out of alignment' that could explain why his reflux is so bad, and why it is worse sometimes than others. She said the ligament could be twisting and kinking and making it hard for food to pass by.
She upped his dosage of Prevacid, because he finally reached the next weight brackcet for it. He gets a whole pill a day instead of a half! She told us to start giving more food, and more variety. I asked if he could have yogurt, and she said yes and asked if I thought he would like that. I told her I let him taste a smoothie (which I make with yogurt, a little juice and fresh fruit) and he LOVED it, but I didn't want to give him anymore than a taste because of the dairy. She said since he was doing fine with the formula that is cow-milk based, he should do fine. She told me to also give him some ice cream if he liked it, because it would beef up the calorie count (he has already tasted that too - and likes it!).
Needless to say, I was quite excited and relieved when we left the office!! If he had not gained enough to make the dr happy this time, we would have started testing for different things. The Upper GI was bad enough - for me and him!!
Thank you to EVERYONE who has been praying for Andrew!! I amazes me the power of prayer!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Check out Mr. Fireman!!!
Bryce asked if he could be a fireman for halloween again this year. I told him we had to see if he would be able to wear his costume still (he has not worn it much this summer because it has been so hot). He put it on, and we had to lengthen it quite a bit in the overalls, but it will work! I do believe this will be the last year he will be able to wear it, then I will try to find a shadowbox to put it in and hang it on the wall!! Thought the "fashion show" was cute though.
Baby cookies, hmmmm
Big brothers were teasing Andrew while I was outside. I walked in to find a stack of cookies, just out of Andrew's reach. He is usually given ONE cookie, not even every day, when I first came in he had about SEVEN cookies stacked! It really is disgusting when those things dissolve!!
Between the cookies and the barium "exiting" - he went straight to the bathtub!!!
Between the cookies and the barium "exiting" - he went straight to the bathtub!!!
More trips to Lowe's...
we really should get some stock in them!!!
Since we rearranged rooms, we decided to add some shelves in the closets. The closet in Isaac's and Caleb's room had one shelf/rod across the top and one shelf/rod lower that went across half of the closet. The top one is higher than the one in Bryce's room, and Caleb could not reach it. Then the closet in Bryce's room only had the top shelf/rod which Bryce could not reach. So, we decided to add one in his closet too. Here is Paul's handywork:
This is the shelf added for Caleb and his new footlocker.
Isaac's footlocker
Bryce's new shelf in his closet! Now he can reach his own clothes!
This is as far as we got on decorating this weekend. We got ONE of the maps for Caleb and Isaac's room framed. I thought it turned out pretty good, and only cost $6 to make!! I will take more pictures next weekend when it is finished!
I guess now that they are sharing a room, any postcards can be sent to either Caleb or Isaac - that way Isaac isn't left out!
Since we rearranged rooms, we decided to add some shelves in the closets. The closet in Isaac's and Caleb's room had one shelf/rod across the top and one shelf/rod lower that went across half of the closet. The top one is higher than the one in Bryce's room, and Caleb could not reach it. Then the closet in Bryce's room only had the top shelf/rod which Bryce could not reach. So, we decided to add one in his closet too. Here is Paul's handywork:
This is the shelf added for Caleb and his new footlocker.
Isaac's footlocker
Bryce's new shelf in his closet! Now he can reach his own clothes!
This is as far as we got on decorating this weekend. We got ONE of the maps for Caleb and Isaac's room framed. I thought it turned out pretty good, and only cost $6 to make!! I will take more pictures next weekend when it is finished!I guess now that they are sharing a room, any postcards can be sent to either Caleb or Isaac - that way Isaac isn't left out!
Rearranging Rooms
It has been a very busy weekend (since Thursday)!! Thursday after the whole toy box incident, I decided that the boys were going to switch around who slept where. Now, Caleb and Isaac are sharing a room and Bryce has his own. Although I did not move any furniture (other than the desk and computer), it was still long and exhausting!
Saturday, I made Bryce help me clean ALL of the toys one by one. I scrubbed them all and made him dry them all. He kept saying he was done and he was going to go play and I kept reminding him that he has NOTHING to play with! He did not have fun, but then again, neither did I!!! He asked if we could just throw the toys away and buy new ones!! At this point, there won't be Christmas or any more birthdays at this house this year!!
Then I got this brilliant idea (I think so anyway). I wanted to remove all the toys from bedrooms, but don't have anywhere to store them unless I want to give up part of the garage (don't think Paul would appreciate parking outside to punish the kids!!). So, I went and got this:
This is actually one of those plastic boxes to put in a vehicle ( back of a truck or something). I like that it is not wood, but mostly, I like it because of this:
Now the boys can see their toy boxes and know there are toys in it, but can't get any out! They have to ask my permission and wait on me to get the key and unlock them. Then they are only allowed to have one thing out at a time. They are responsible for that "thing". If it gets peed on, torn up, etc while they are responsible for it - they are the one to get punished. Kind of like a library system (thanks for the idea Mom, even though I don't think that is where you were headed with it!). Also from now on - if it touched pee - it goes straight to the trash. I WILL NOT spend another afternoon scrubbing toys one by one!! And I WILL NOT bring anymore toys into either one of those bedrooms, until we learn how to respect our things!
To make the older two feel better about having to share a room, I went and got them each a foot locker. They got to decorate them the way they wanted. They are allowed to put anything of theirs that they do not want their brothers messing with in it. But, again, I GET THE KEYS.
Mom is getting mean and tough! They WILL learn respect, which they once knew, but seemed to of forgotten recently!
Saturday, I made Bryce help me clean ALL of the toys one by one. I scrubbed them all and made him dry them all. He kept saying he was done and he was going to go play and I kept reminding him that he has NOTHING to play with! He did not have fun, but then again, neither did I!!! He asked if we could just throw the toys away and buy new ones!! At this point, there won't be Christmas or any more birthdays at this house this year!!
Then I got this brilliant idea (I think so anyway). I wanted to remove all the toys from bedrooms, but don't have anywhere to store them unless I want to give up part of the garage (don't think Paul would appreciate parking outside to punish the kids!!). So, I went and got this:
This is actually one of those plastic boxes to put in a vehicle ( back of a truck or something). I like that it is not wood, but mostly, I like it because of this:
Now the boys can see their toy boxes and know there are toys in it, but can't get any out! They have to ask my permission and wait on me to get the key and unlock them. Then they are only allowed to have one thing out at a time. They are responsible for that "thing". If it gets peed on, torn up, etc while they are responsible for it - they are the one to get punished. Kind of like a library system (thanks for the idea Mom, even though I don't think that is where you were headed with it!). Also from now on - if it touched pee - it goes straight to the trash. I WILL NOT spend another afternoon scrubbing toys one by one!! And I WILL NOT bring anymore toys into either one of those bedrooms, until we learn how to respect our things!
To make the older two feel better about having to share a room, I went and got them each a foot locker. They got to decorate them the way they wanted. They are allowed to put anything of theirs that they do not want their brothers messing with in it. But, again, I GET THE KEYS.
Mom is getting mean and tough! They WILL learn respect, which they once knew, but seemed to of forgotten recently!
Can we fail third grade??
Apparantly, Caleb is going to try! How awkward would it be if you fail third grade WHILE you are in the gifted and talanted program! Especially when it is because of LAZINESS!!! Oh, and refusal to attempt to be organized (which is really frustrating to someone who is OCD about organization!!)
He got a zero for a collage he was supposed to do last week. I reminded him on three different days (which is more than I should have done) to do it, and he didn't. Then he was writing a report about Lacrosse that he said was optional for a sports book his class was doing. When I picked him up today, he said he could turn it in tomorrow, but would loose 10 points - so it WAS a grade! Then he forgot his homework (AGAIN). I took him back to the school (even though it was pouring rain) to get it, which I explained that I would not do anymore. This is the second time since school started less than two months ago that I have done that!
I tried letting him decide the best way for him to keep his stuff organized. He asked me to get him a planner so he could write his assignments in it and checking them off as he finishes. He has used it one time, and has had it since the second week of school! He won't put any papers in his folder to bring home or take them to school, he just throws them in his bag and wonders why he doesn't know what he has!
I have a conference with his teacher tomorrow. We will see....
He got a zero for a collage he was supposed to do last week. I reminded him on three different days (which is more than I should have done) to do it, and he didn't. Then he was writing a report about Lacrosse that he said was optional for a sports book his class was doing. When I picked him up today, he said he could turn it in tomorrow, but would loose 10 points - so it WAS a grade! Then he forgot his homework (AGAIN). I took him back to the school (even though it was pouring rain) to get it, which I explained that I would not do anymore. This is the second time since school started less than two months ago that I have done that!
I tried letting him decide the best way for him to keep his stuff organized. He asked me to get him a planner so he could write his assignments in it and checking them off as he finishes. He has used it one time, and has had it since the second week of school! He won't put any papers in his folder to bring home or take them to school, he just throws them in his bag and wonders why he doesn't know what he has!
I have a conference with his teacher tomorrow. We will see....
Andrew's Upper GI
We just got home from the hospital. It ended up taking longer than it should have because after they did the first one, they saw something they were concerned with and wanted to do another after the barium went through his system more, so he had the test done twice. They do just a regular xray when you first go back, then they strap him to a board on a table. They do an ultrasound-type xray while he drinks the barium a little at a time. She did see some reflux during it, so we now know that is definently a problem he is having. I felt so bad for him, I almost started crying watching him, but he was SO good!! Even the nurses kept commenting on how calm and happy he was. They strap him down with his hands over his head, a strap at his head, chest and feet. He was actually fine until they UNSTRAPPED him. I think his arms had gone to sleep because as soon as they were freed, he started screaming.
He finished the barium (6 ounces - which she said taste like Milk of Magnesia), which he did not seem to mind too much. Toward the end of the bottle he kept pushing the nipple out and would get the shakes and wrinkle his nose, but I guess he was so hungry at that point he didn't care what it tasted like!! After he finished they laid him on the table and just held his arms and legs this time and did the ultrasound-type xray again.
She said there was a ligament in his stomach that was over a little further than it should be. The dr looked at it and agreed and said that she wanted to retest after 45 minutes to give the barium time to make it further down the tract and see if it causes problems, which they didn't think it would.
So we went and sat back in the waiting room for over an hour before we were called back again. They did a regular xray and then the ultrasound type xray again. The dr did it all this time and said everything looked good.
Andrew was SO good the entire time. He got a little fussy while we were waiting, but he had not eaten HIS food or taken a nap all morning, so I was amazed. He smiled and talked through all of everything!
Even more amazing - BRYCE!! He was awesome!! I did not have to get on to him once! During the actual tests, he went and sat with the nurses. I am not sure who loved that more - him or them! When I came out with Andrew, Bryce was surrounded by nurses!
They made it a great visit, and I hope that tomorrow when I have ALL FOUR of them at the drs office, they all behave as well as Bryce did!!
Oh yeah - I weighed him this morning and he was 13-8, that means he has gained 5 ounces in two weeks!!! Not what he needs to be gaining, but the best so far!
He finished the barium (6 ounces - which she said taste like Milk of Magnesia), which he did not seem to mind too much. Toward the end of the bottle he kept pushing the nipple out and would get the shakes and wrinkle his nose, but I guess he was so hungry at that point he didn't care what it tasted like!! After he finished they laid him on the table and just held his arms and legs this time and did the ultrasound-type xray again.
She said there was a ligament in his stomach that was over a little further than it should be. The dr looked at it and agreed and said that she wanted to retest after 45 minutes to give the barium time to make it further down the tract and see if it causes problems, which they didn't think it would.
So we went and sat back in the waiting room for over an hour before we were called back again. They did a regular xray and then the ultrasound type xray again. The dr did it all this time and said everything looked good.
Andrew was SO good the entire time. He got a little fussy while we were waiting, but he had not eaten HIS food or taken a nap all morning, so I was amazed. He smiled and talked through all of everything!
Even more amazing - BRYCE!! He was awesome!! I did not have to get on to him once! During the actual tests, he went and sat with the nurses. I am not sure who loved that more - him or them! When I came out with Andrew, Bryce was surrounded by nurses!
They made it a great visit, and I hope that tomorrow when I have ALL FOUR of them at the drs office, they all behave as well as Bryce did!!
Oh yeah - I weighed him this morning and he was 13-8, that means he has gained 5 ounces in two weeks!!! Not what he needs to be gaining, but the best so far!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Vacationing Paul
Paul left for Maine today. He is going to have fun,with a little work (just management meetings). I don't have much sympathy for him - although he has complained about the daily meetings that will probably be a couple of hours long. I would LOVE to go sit in a meeting for a couple of hours a day if it meant vacation for the rest of the week!!!
He went and got some waders for some flyfishing. He came home and tried everything on, before he went and found out it didn't fit! We walked out to the backyard and Bella (our australian shepard) got one glance of Paul and went running!! All Paul had to do is look at Bella and move and she would dart across the yard. I ended up having to hold her and let Paul come up and sniff him. It was quite hilarious that she did not know who he was because of what he was wearing!!
I hope he enjoys his time up there. He gets to kayak, canoe, fish, hunt, hike, swim... Sounds like everything he always wants to do!! The best thing - the boss said not to pack ANY nice clothes. This is about a laid-back work trip as they come!
I will post the pictures he takes when he gets home!
He went and got some waders for some flyfishing. He came home and tried everything on, before he went and found out it didn't fit! We walked out to the backyard and Bella (our australian shepard) got one glance of Paul and went running!! All Paul had to do is look at Bella and move and she would dart across the yard. I ended up having to hold her and let Paul come up and sniff him. It was quite hilarious that she did not know who he was because of what he was wearing!!
I hope he enjoys his time up there. He gets to kayak, canoe, fish, hunt, hike, swim... Sounds like everything he always wants to do!! The best thing - the boss said not to pack ANY nice clothes. This is about a laid-back work trip as they come!
I will post the pictures he takes when he gets home!
Andrew's New Games
He likes to stick his tongue out, especially if he is copying someone else doing it!
Peek-a-boo!
He can do both at once - TALANT!!
OH NO!!!
I think we may be done with this swing now!! Andrew figured out that he could sit up, fold himself in half and hang over the front!!! I think the pictures speak for themselves!!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Green Eggs and Ham
Mrs. "Awissa" made green eggs and ham with the kids today. She brought and electric skillet and cooked for everyone. She did not think any of them would like them, but EVERYONE liked them - and wanted more!!
Bryce was excited when I picked him up, and told me all about eating green eggs and ham!
Bryce was excited when I picked him up, and told me all about eating green eggs and ham!
Need to Rant (I AM SOOO EMBARRASSED!!)
This really is a very embarrassing, but this is DEFINENTLY something I want the kids to read about later down the road!!
I am PISSED (no pun intended! I have to keep my humor, though!!)
I have been cleaning Isaac and Bryce's room - in tears!! I don't know what to do! Part of me wants to throw away ALL of their toys (which I just threw away a whole box of legos - we are talking plastic box with a lego lid that you can build on! Then I just emptied the toy box and threw away a trashbag full of toys. HE PEED IN THE TOY BOX!!! FULL OF TOYS!! I HAD TO WEAR RUBBER GLOVES TO CLEAN OUT THE TOYS!!!If this is what I am already having to deal with with a house of boys - I will probably die of a stroke before we hit the teenage years!!
I want to throw all the toys out, but toys are SO expensive and I still have a baby that could play with them later. So, if I don't throw them out - I have to individually scrub EVERY toy. To think that I was actually rethinking taking all of the toys out of the bedrooms!
I am SO embarressed that MY kids did this. Did I NOT teach them better than THIS? I REALLY want to put him in diapers, but he can pull those down/and off just as easy as underwear. I guess I need a plug!
I could use some LEGAL punishment ideas!! I feel like I have tried EVERYTHING short of removing EVERYTHING but their beds from their room and I am actually in the process of doing that NOW.
Mommy's sanity - it just went out the window!
I think Mommy needs the vacation to Maine next week - not Daddy!!
I am PISSED (no pun intended! I have to keep my humor, though!!)
I have been cleaning Isaac and Bryce's room - in tears!! I don't know what to do! Part of me wants to throw away ALL of their toys (which I just threw away a whole box of legos - we are talking plastic box with a lego lid that you can build on! Then I just emptied the toy box and threw away a trashbag full of toys. HE PEED IN THE TOY BOX!!! FULL OF TOYS!! I HAD TO WEAR RUBBER GLOVES TO CLEAN OUT THE TOYS!!!If this is what I am already having to deal with with a house of boys - I will probably die of a stroke before we hit the teenage years!!
I want to throw all the toys out, but toys are SO expensive and I still have a baby that could play with them later. So, if I don't throw them out - I have to individually scrub EVERY toy. To think that I was actually rethinking taking all of the toys out of the bedrooms!
I am SO embarressed that MY kids did this. Did I NOT teach them better than THIS? I REALLY want to put him in diapers, but he can pull those down/and off just as easy as underwear. I guess I need a plug!
I could use some LEGAL punishment ideas!! I feel like I have tried EVERYTHING short of removing EVERYTHING but their beds from their room and I am actually in the process of doing that NOW.
Mommy's sanity - it just went out the window!
I think Mommy needs the vacation to Maine next week - not Daddy!!
I NEED HELP!!
Not that kind! I do, but I would be going to a trained professional for that!!!
I need postcards!! It doesn't matter where they are from (but I guess the stranger the place the cooler it would be). We are working on Caleb's room (assuming, of course, he gets to KEEP his room!!). We had some wall maps up, and Daddy was marking every place he goes, but the ceiling fan kept blowing it down and I can't find a frame big enough for it. So, I am going to make one this weekend. I am just going to get some small molding and put around it to keep the fan from blowing it.
We are using some old license plates (so if anyone has any of those - especially from different states - we could use those too!) that we have - from Pepa's old truck, an Arkansas plate we had from a past vehicle, etc. We have Daddy's old Arizona Route 66 metal sign that we are using. I thought it would be neat to frame some postcards to use too (he would like them even more if there was a special message for him on it - he LOVES getting mail!!)
Caleb wants to be an explorer. He is very interested in maps and globes. He would really like to explore jungles and deserts, etc., but I thought this would be a fun way to decorate his room and postcards with special messages on them would be a neat thing for his "memory box" that he has when he decides to take them down off the wall. It has also been a great learning tool for him. He is learning where the states are and different cities in different states.
Thanks in advance for your help!! He doesn't know I am putting out this request, so it will be a BIG surprise when he asks me if he got mail (which he oddly does DAILY and I always have to tell him no) and I can actually say yes! I am going to have Daddy start picking up a postcard when he is out of town - like next week while he is in Maine on vacation!!!
I need postcards!! It doesn't matter where they are from (but I guess the stranger the place the cooler it would be). We are working on Caleb's room (assuming, of course, he gets to KEEP his room!!). We had some wall maps up, and Daddy was marking every place he goes, but the ceiling fan kept blowing it down and I can't find a frame big enough for it. So, I am going to make one this weekend. I am just going to get some small molding and put around it to keep the fan from blowing it.
We are using some old license plates (so if anyone has any of those - especially from different states - we could use those too!) that we have - from Pepa's old truck, an Arkansas plate we had from a past vehicle, etc. We have Daddy's old Arizona Route 66 metal sign that we are using. I thought it would be neat to frame some postcards to use too (he would like them even more if there was a special message for him on it - he LOVES getting mail!!)
Caleb wants to be an explorer. He is very interested in maps and globes. He would really like to explore jungles and deserts, etc., but I thought this would be a fun way to decorate his room and postcards with special messages on them would be a neat thing for his "memory box" that he has when he decides to take them down off the wall. It has also been a great learning tool for him. He is learning where the states are and different cities in different states.
Thanks in advance for your help!! He doesn't know I am putting out this request, so it will be a BIG surprise when he asks me if he got mail (which he oddly does DAILY and I always have to tell him no) and I can actually say yes! I am going to have Daddy start picking up a postcard when he is out of town - like next week while he is in Maine on vacation!!!
Today, on my "day off" I will be busy removing toys from bedrooms!! The boys are going to be losing all toys for awhile.
Caleb will not clean his room. When I tell him to, he is always "playing with all of the stuff on the floor," even when he is not and has not been in his room. When he is suppose to be doing homework - he is playing. So, until Caleb can stop the attitude, clean up after himself and do his homework when he is supposed to - he owns NOTHING!!
Isaac and Bryce....well....we are having a problem with Bryce peeing - in EVERYTHING!! We are talking boxes, legos, toy fireman boots, if it holds liquid - he will pee in it. While this is Bryce doing it, and Bryce being held responsible for it, he is being TOLD to do it. Then the brother (they both do it, but Isaac is the worst) that told him to do it, quickly runs to me or Daddy and tells on him! We are trying hard to teach Bryce not to listen to his brothers and definently not to do what they say when he KNOWS it wrong! He knows what he is supposed to do and what he isn't, but chooses to listen to them anyway. He IS held accountable for his actions and choices! Isaac (or whoever tells him to do what he does wrong) is also held responsible for their choice of telling their brother to do something they know he is not supposed to do (and then tattling about it).
It started with them telling him to take toys into the bathroom and fill it with water. Then they would tell him to take them and pour it into something into the bedroom. It escalated from that to telling him to pee. I have HEARD them tell him to do both, so I know they are doing it! At this point, their bathroom door is staying locked and they have to ask me to unlock the door so they can go to the bathroom. That way I know who is in there, how long they are in there and what they are doing while they are in there. It also helps me keep the bathroom clean, but it is still sad that I have to go to this extreme!
After dealing with this for way to long, and trying MANY different punishments - none of which are working long-term, we are now removing everything FUN from their room. Unfortunately, since that is what he is being told to pee in - and peeing in - this is the last straw and what is going to have to be done!!
We have never had this problem before. I don't know that he is doing this because of Andrew (maybe he is, but I don't know). I think he is basically trying to be one of the "BIG BOYS" and when they tell him to do something, he does it! School peer pressure should be fun if he can't handle his brothers pressuring him into trouble. That is why we have CONTINUAL talks about NOT listening to his brothers and doing what he KNOWS is the right thing to do.
I warned Caleb that if this does not fix the problem, the next step is that Caleb and Isaac start sharing a room so that I can get Bryce away from the problem!!
Caleb will not clean his room. When I tell him to, he is always "playing with all of the stuff on the floor," even when he is not and has not been in his room. When he is suppose to be doing homework - he is playing. So, until Caleb can stop the attitude, clean up after himself and do his homework when he is supposed to - he owns NOTHING!!
Isaac and Bryce....well....we are having a problem with Bryce peeing - in EVERYTHING!! We are talking boxes, legos, toy fireman boots, if it holds liquid - he will pee in it. While this is Bryce doing it, and Bryce being held responsible for it, he is being TOLD to do it. Then the brother (they both do it, but Isaac is the worst) that told him to do it, quickly runs to me or Daddy and tells on him! We are trying hard to teach Bryce not to listen to his brothers and definently not to do what they say when he KNOWS it wrong! He knows what he is supposed to do and what he isn't, but chooses to listen to them anyway. He IS held accountable for his actions and choices! Isaac (or whoever tells him to do what he does wrong) is also held responsible for their choice of telling their brother to do something they know he is not supposed to do (and then tattling about it).
It started with them telling him to take toys into the bathroom and fill it with water. Then they would tell him to take them and pour it into something into the bedroom. It escalated from that to telling him to pee. I have HEARD them tell him to do both, so I know they are doing it! At this point, their bathroom door is staying locked and they have to ask me to unlock the door so they can go to the bathroom. That way I know who is in there, how long they are in there and what they are doing while they are in there. It also helps me keep the bathroom clean, but it is still sad that I have to go to this extreme!
After dealing with this for way to long, and trying MANY different punishments - none of which are working long-term, we are now removing everything FUN from their room. Unfortunately, since that is what he is being told to pee in - and peeing in - this is the last straw and what is going to have to be done!!
We have never had this problem before. I don't know that he is doing this because of Andrew (maybe he is, but I don't know). I think he is basically trying to be one of the "BIG BOYS" and when they tell him to do something, he does it! School peer pressure should be fun if he can't handle his brothers pressuring him into trouble. That is why we have CONTINUAL talks about NOT listening to his brothers and doing what he KNOWS is the right thing to do.
I warned Caleb that if this does not fix the problem, the next step is that Caleb and Isaac start sharing a room so that I can get Bryce away from the problem!!
Mr. Know-It-All
Okay, so really I have four of these (give me a while and I will have five!), but this one is about Bryce!
His teacher's name is Mrs. Melissa. He calls her Mrs. Awissa. I keep working with him and telling him to say MELISSA and he will say it when prompted, but when we talk about her he goes back to saying AWISSA.
Finally, Tuesday after school, he was telling me that Mrs. Awissa was not there today. I told him he knew how to say Melissa and asked why he wouldn't say it correctly. "Why would I say Melissa? Her name is Mrs. AWISSA!!!" I told him it wasn't and we went through it all AGAIN! "She told us her name was Mrs. Awissa and that is what I am calling her!"
So, today when I dropped him off, she asked Bryce if he missed her. I was telling her that he kept going on and on about her not being there, then I remembered our conversation Tuesday. I told him to say her name and he said Mrs. Awissa. She laughed and said that most kids say it that way. I then made him say Melissa, which he did. He then proceeded to lecture me AGAIN that her name was Awissa not Melissa - in front of her!! She got a good laugh out of it. I guess she will now forever be Mrs. Awissa to him!!
His teacher's name is Mrs. Melissa. He calls her Mrs. Awissa. I keep working with him and telling him to say MELISSA and he will say it when prompted, but when we talk about her he goes back to saying AWISSA.
Finally, Tuesday after school, he was telling me that Mrs. Awissa was not there today. I told him he knew how to say Melissa and asked why he wouldn't say it correctly. "Why would I say Melissa? Her name is Mrs. AWISSA!!!" I told him it wasn't and we went through it all AGAIN! "She told us her name was Mrs. Awissa and that is what I am calling her!"
So, today when I dropped him off, she asked Bryce if he missed her. I was telling her that he kept going on and on about her not being there, then I remembered our conversation Tuesday. I told him to say her name and he said Mrs. Awissa. She laughed and said that most kids say it that way. I then made him say Melissa, which he did. He then proceeded to lecture me AGAIN that her name was Awissa not Melissa - in front of her!! She got a good laugh out of it. I guess she will now forever be Mrs. Awissa to him!!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Quiet!
AAAHHHHH! Quiet! Even with Bryce here, there is noone for him to argue with or to pick on him and make him scream!
Now, I am trying to catch up on housework. I need to clean everyones sheets and blankets and get rid of GERMS!!
It seems like it is Friday already - LONG WEEK!!
Now, I am trying to catch up on housework. I need to clean everyones sheets and blankets and get rid of GERMS!!
It seems like it is Friday already - LONG WEEK!!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Andrew's Last Dr's Appt
I am finally posting about it!
Last week when we went to the gastro dr, Andrew had gained 3 ounces in two weeks. It is good that he is gaining SOMETHING, but he should still be gaining an ounce a day (this usually tapers back some around six months). The dr told me to keep a journal of everything that goes in and comes out for the next two weeks. She did not want to start running test until she gets at least one more weight check in. If, by the next appointment, he is not gaining better, they will start running test.
He is only breastfeeding twice a day now. He nurses first thing in the morning and right before bed. The rest of the time he is getting formula and baby food. So, the lack of gaining can't be from him not getting enough hindmilk!
Monday he goes to Children's to have an upper GI done. I don't know who is going to force barium down him, but I know who isn't!! This test was already scheduled by the pediatrician, and the gastro wanted me to go ahead and keep it because it takes so long to get in. Then Tuesday I take him back to the gastro to see where we go from there. The bad part is that Paul is going to be out of town AND the boys are all out of school on Tuesday!
We had a couple of nights this weekend where AJ fussed all night. We don't know what was going on, but it was just a couple of nights and he has been fine since then.
I will try to post next weeks dr check up a litte quicker!!
Last week when we went to the gastro dr, Andrew had gained 3 ounces in two weeks. It is good that he is gaining SOMETHING, but he should still be gaining an ounce a day (this usually tapers back some around six months). The dr told me to keep a journal of everything that goes in and comes out for the next two weeks. She did not want to start running test until she gets at least one more weight check in. If, by the next appointment, he is not gaining better, they will start running test.
He is only breastfeeding twice a day now. He nurses first thing in the morning and right before bed. The rest of the time he is getting formula and baby food. So, the lack of gaining can't be from him not getting enough hindmilk!
Monday he goes to Children's to have an upper GI done. I don't know who is going to force barium down him, but I know who isn't!! This test was already scheduled by the pediatrician, and the gastro wanted me to go ahead and keep it because it takes so long to get in. Then Tuesday I take him back to the gastro to see where we go from there. The bad part is that Paul is going to be out of town AND the boys are all out of school on Tuesday!
We had a couple of nights this weekend where AJ fussed all night. We don't know what was going on, but it was just a couple of nights and he has been fine since then.
I will try to post next weeks dr check up a litte quicker!!
Sick Kids!!!
I know you can't fake a fever or passed strep test, but I have one kid that can definently put forth the effort! Caleb got up this morning complaining that his throat was KILLING him and saying it hurt so bad he could not swallow at all! This continued until 8am - which is what time school starts!! Magically, at 8 his throat got better and he was able to eat 6 cinammon squares with no complaints.
He was fine ALL day - picking on his brothers and playing - until right before bedtime. Then his stomach started hurting. He was lying on the bathroom floor moaning and groaning while I was giving Andrew his bath. When I never acknowledged him, he got louder. I told him it sounded like he needed to go to bed!
He continued until I went outside (and the boys and Daddy were already out there). He tried to follow me, but I told him he needed to stay in since he was sick. He asked if he could play the x-box and I said no, he needed to rest since he is so sick. "I am starting to feel better though!"
It is so amazing how he can turn on and off his illness depending on what he wants to get out of or be able to do!
He did tell me when we went and got his make-up work and he saw all of his homework that staying home sick didn't seem like much fun anymore. He for some reason thought that the work he was missing would just disappear and he would never have to do it. He had a notebook sheet of paper full of assignments for him to do. He spent half the day doing homework! He got everything but a collage done.
Poor Isaac has continuously asked since yesterday (right after I picked him up) when he could go back to school. I guess the new has not warn off for him yet!
He was fine ALL day - picking on his brothers and playing - until right before bedtime. Then his stomach started hurting. He was lying on the bathroom floor moaning and groaning while I was giving Andrew his bath. When I never acknowledged him, he got louder. I told him it sounded like he needed to go to bed!
He continued until I went outside (and the boys and Daddy were already out there). He tried to follow me, but I told him he needed to stay in since he was sick. He asked if he could play the x-box and I said no, he needed to rest since he is so sick. "I am starting to feel better though!"
It is so amazing how he can turn on and off his illness depending on what he wants to get out of or be able to do!
He did tell me when we went and got his make-up work and he saw all of his homework that staying home sick didn't seem like much fun anymore. He for some reason thought that the work he was missing would just disappear and he would never have to do it. He had a notebook sheet of paper full of assignments for him to do. He spent half the day doing homework! He got everything but a collage done.
Poor Isaac has continuously asked since yesterday (right after I picked him up) when he could go back to school. I guess the new has not warn off for him yet!
Update
I meant to give an update on this post. When Bryce got up from his nap, he went straight to the dining room window. I was in the living room. I hear him say "man, it's too late." then he comes in and tells me we waited to long. I asked what he was talking about and he said that the lady across the street was gone so we could not ask her for her groceries. Then he gets a face like a light-bulb had just come on in his little brain. "All of the groceries would still be in her house though!"
I asked if he was planning on breaking in and stealing her groceries and he said yes! Four years old and already going to be a jail-bird!! But hey, way to take care of your Mom!!!!
I asked if he was planning on breaking in and stealing her groceries and he said yes! Four years old and already going to be a jail-bird!! But hey, way to take care of your Mom!!!!
Blueberries and Bananas
Andrew eating blueberries and bananas. Seemed to be his favorite of all so far!
This is Andrew when you run out of blueberries and bananas! Don't run out of blueberries and bananas (of course, then he will just eat himself sick - literally)!
HOW ABOUT SOME PICS?
I walked into Andrew's room to find him sleeping like this. His Daddy sleeps like this - face into the mattress. Sure looks uncomfy!!!
Which one for lunch?
BOTH!
AJ fell asleep playing in his crib.
Caleb feeding AJ
Isaac feeding AJ
Guilt?
I promise I will catch up, but instead of getting further behind with the going-ons, I am going to keep blogging on what is going on now. I have some pics to put on and they take TIME (which is something I am rather short of lately!).
Last night, I went on a hunt for a toy box for AJ's room (which I didn't find one!). I left Paul home with the kids. Apparantly, while I was gone, Paul ended up in a conference call with two of his bosses and another person. After hearing his story when I got home, I felt bad for a second - literally a second - then I told myself NOT to! It was good for him to realize what I have to deal with when I am home trying to take care of stuff.
Paul had to feed the boys their dinner. While he was trying to do all of that and had AJ in his highchair waiting for HIS dinner, Paul ended up on a conference call. He was telling me how hard it was to pay attention to the conversation and deal with the kids all at the same time. The kids seem to think (as most kids do I think) that if Mom or Dad are on the phone, they can get away with anything!
I felt guilty at first for not being here to help, but then I took the oppurtunity to point out that this is what I have to deal with. He has gotten frustrated before because he would call from work and ask me to call and take care of different things and my response is always "If I get a chance..." Now, I hope that he understands that it is not an excuse to not do something, but the stars have to align just right (in other words - everyone has to nap at the same time, which rarely happens these days) to have a conversation that makes sense and I can remember the result of!!
It all worked out for me because when I got home, three kids were in bed and the kitchen was being cleaned! I fed AJ and was done for the night!
HHHHMMMMMM....
Maybe I will "have" to go out for something EVERY NIGHT!!
Last night, I went on a hunt for a toy box for AJ's room (which I didn't find one!). I left Paul home with the kids. Apparantly, while I was gone, Paul ended up in a conference call with two of his bosses and another person. After hearing his story when I got home, I felt bad for a second - literally a second - then I told myself NOT to! It was good for him to realize what I have to deal with when I am home trying to take care of stuff.
Paul had to feed the boys their dinner. While he was trying to do all of that and had AJ in his highchair waiting for HIS dinner, Paul ended up on a conference call. He was telling me how hard it was to pay attention to the conversation and deal with the kids all at the same time. The kids seem to think (as most kids do I think) that if Mom or Dad are on the phone, they can get away with anything!
I felt guilty at first for not being here to help, but then I took the oppurtunity to point out that this is what I have to deal with. He has gotten frustrated before because he would call from work and ask me to call and take care of different things and my response is always "If I get a chance..." Now, I hope that he understands that it is not an excuse to not do something, but the stars have to align just right (in other words - everyone has to nap at the same time, which rarely happens these days) to have a conversation that makes sense and I can remember the result of!!
It all worked out for me because when I got home, three kids were in bed and the kitchen was being cleaned! I fed AJ and was done for the night!
HHHHMMMMMM....
Maybe I will "have" to go out for something EVERY NIGHT!!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Sick kids
So much for a week without drs!! Caleb started feeling bad this weekend, so I kept him home today to go to the dr. He complained that his throat was hurting a little, his head was hurting and Friday night - his stomach was hurting. I know it is time for him to get strep throat though, because he has been in school for several weeks and he usually gets strep around now.
As I was leaving the house this morning to take Caleb, the school called. Isaac went to the nurse with an upset tummy. She took his temp and it was 100.7. So, I picked him up and took him to.
I told dr what was going on adn reminded him that it is time for Caleb to get strep. He checked him out, said he was congested, said he did not have the symptoms of strep and his throat looked fine, but because of his history wanted to test it anyway. Came back positive - do I know my kids or what!!
He did not test Isaac. He did an exam everything looked fine, so he is treating both of them for strep throat. He asked how much Isaac weighed and I told him he was around 40 pounds last time so I would guess 42 to 44. He went and had him weighed and came back with a big smile. I hit it perfect! He was 44 pounds - see told you I know my kids!!
They can't go back to school until Wednesday. I am going to keep Bryce home tomorrow from MDO, just in case he has it. So far he seems fine, but I would hate to knowingly spread it! They did say if he starts showing symptoms to call and they would call in a prescription!
As I was leaving the house this morning to take Caleb, the school called. Isaac went to the nurse with an upset tummy. She took his temp and it was 100.7. So, I picked him up and took him to.
I told dr what was going on adn reminded him that it is time for Caleb to get strep. He checked him out, said he was congested, said he did not have the symptoms of strep and his throat looked fine, but because of his history wanted to test it anyway. Came back positive - do I know my kids or what!!
He did not test Isaac. He did an exam everything looked fine, so he is treating both of them for strep throat. He asked how much Isaac weighed and I told him he was around 40 pounds last time so I would guess 42 to 44. He went and had him weighed and came back with a big smile. I hit it perfect! He was 44 pounds - see told you I know my kids!!
They can't go back to school until Wednesday. I am going to keep Bryce home tomorrow from MDO, just in case he has it. So far he seems fine, but I would hate to knowingly spread it! They did say if he starts showing symptoms to call and they would call in a prescription!
Friday, September 14, 2007
TOO FUNNY!!!
I know I have a lot of catching up to still do, but this was HILARIOUS!! I often have to wonder where kids come up with stuff, Bryce is on a roll today!!
First off, I was still running around the house getting stuff ready to go this morning when I told the boys to get in the car. Bryce can't reach his shirts in his closet, so he didn't have one on. I told him to get in the car and I would bring him one. We take the boys to school and get all the way to the store before Bryce decides to remind me he needs a shirt. No shirt, no shoes.... right? We went back home and got him a shirt!
We went to Target this morning for diapers. He asked on the way if he could have a toy. I told him I didn't know but if he was not good, he would not get ANYTHING! His first response was "You get what you get, but you don't throw a fit!" Then he changed it around and said "A toy is what you get when you don't throw a fit!"
He has been really good this morning while running errands. I had told him we needed to go grocery shopping, but I didn't want to (and neither did he). I was on the computer and he was looking out the window at the lady across the street unloading groceries. Then he went running to the door and tried to open it. I asked where he thought he was going, "I am going to go ask her to give us her groceries so we don't have to go to the store!"
Sounds like a GREAT idea to me, but where did he come up with that?
First off, I was still running around the house getting stuff ready to go this morning when I told the boys to get in the car. Bryce can't reach his shirts in his closet, so he didn't have one on. I told him to get in the car and I would bring him one. We take the boys to school and get all the way to the store before Bryce decides to remind me he needs a shirt. No shirt, no shoes.... right? We went back home and got him a shirt!
We went to Target this morning for diapers. He asked on the way if he could have a toy. I told him I didn't know but if he was not good, he would not get ANYTHING! His first response was "You get what you get, but you don't throw a fit!" Then he changed it around and said "A toy is what you get when you don't throw a fit!"
He has been really good this morning while running errands. I had told him we needed to go grocery shopping, but I didn't want to (and neither did he). I was on the computer and he was looking out the window at the lady across the street unloading groceries. Then he went running to the door and tried to open it. I asked where he thought he was going, "I am going to go ask her to give us her groceries so we don't have to go to the store!"
Sounds like a GREAT idea to me, but where did he come up with that?
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
AJ'S FIRST WORD!
Monday evening, AJ said his first word. Just take a guess at what it was!? Give you a clue - it WASN'T MAMA!!! Yes, it was Dada(dadada). I will add here that Paul has DAILY since he was born, put AJ right in his face and said Dadadadadada over and over. So, he has brainwashed the kid!!
I guess I should have been saying Mamamamamama over and over when breastfeeding, changing diapers, dressing, batheing, etc, etc... That is okay though. Let Daddy eat it up!!
When AJ is dirty and is chanting Dadadadada - guess who he is going to get!!!!!
I guess I should have been saying Mamamamamama over and over when breastfeeding, changing diapers, dressing, batheing, etc, etc... That is okay though. Let Daddy eat it up!!
When AJ is dirty and is chanting Dadadadada - guess who he is going to get!!!!!
Bryce's First Day of MDO
I have a picture that was taken on his first day, but I need to find it and scan it in, but I can tell you about it.
He loves school!! He was so excited last Tuesday that he was mad when we dropped the boys off at school. Once he got there, he went right into playing and did not want to be bothered with Daddy or me!!
His teacher said he played with a dollhouse the whole day. She told me she could not figure out why he was so excited about a dollhouse, and then realized that we have no girls, so he never gets to play with one.
I asked Bryce if he wanted a dollhouse. He said yes, but there could not be any girls. Only Daddy, boys and dogs and furniture. I said "what am I, chopped liver?" "Yes you are chopped liver. You're a girl!"
Only the girl that does EVERYTHING for him (including wiping his butt!). I would love to see this house run WITHOUT a girl (as long as I don't have to come back at the end of that experiment and CLEAN!!).
He is still loving school. He is really excited about starting kindergarten. He asks just about daily when we take the kids to school how long before he gets to go too! He was so cute Friday when we had lunch at the school, sitting there with all the kindergarteners!
He loves school!! He was so excited last Tuesday that he was mad when we dropped the boys off at school. Once he got there, he went right into playing and did not want to be bothered with Daddy or me!!
His teacher said he played with a dollhouse the whole day. She told me she could not figure out why he was so excited about a dollhouse, and then realized that we have no girls, so he never gets to play with one.
I asked Bryce if he wanted a dollhouse. He said yes, but there could not be any girls. Only Daddy, boys and dogs and furniture. I said "what am I, chopped liver?" "Yes you are chopped liver. You're a girl!"
Only the girl that does EVERYTHING for him (including wiping his butt!). I would love to see this house run WITHOUT a girl (as long as I don't have to come back at the end of that experiment and CLEAN!!).
He is still loving school. He is really excited about starting kindergarten. He asks just about daily when we take the kids to school how long before he gets to go too! He was so cute Friday when we had lunch at the school, sitting there with all the kindergarteners!
Caleb's School Update
WOW!!! We have been having MAJOR attitude problems with Caleb. I fear this may be the beginning of adolescence, and I fear even more that one of us may not survive it!!!
This has been a growing problem, but ever since the Labor Day trip (which I forgot to post about - I will do that one next) it has been extremely bad! He got back from his kayaking trip with Papa and Daddy and he was tired and moody. We were going to go eat Chinese for dinner. Caleb wanted tacos and started throwing a fit. By the time we got to the car, he was hitting his brothers for no reason and just being rude. I told him to go to his room while I got everyone loaded and ready to go. He went in.
Paul went to his room to tell him to straighten up and get in the car. He said he wasn't going and we couldn't make him. We left him!!
When we got home he had DESTROYED his room. He had thrown stuff everywhere and tore his bed apart. I saw it, turned around and closed the door. It was a LONG weekend with him, and he was only here a day and a half!
Well, last week I got a phone call from a friend saying that Caleb had said a bad word!! I talked to him, he said that he said ass to someone else. I talked to him about it and told him why we don't say those words. That was the end of it.
Friday morning, we are running around taking care of errands so we could go have lunch with the kids. We were going to have to be there for awhile because they don't eat lunch at the same time. I got a call from his teacher on MY CELL PHONE!!! That is serious! She said that he had called some kids jerks and it made her remembered that earlier in the week a student had told her that Caleb had said a bad word, but she was told after Caleb had been picked up.
So we picked Caleb up from school for lunch and went and had a talk! He said that he is bored at school, and he doesn't get to read as much as he wants too. I told him that he HAD to learn other subjects and if he would come home and finish homework in a timely manner, he could read as long as he wanted!!
I went and talked to his teacher. She said that he only gets in trouble when he finishes his work and has nothing to do. He is allowed to read and write when he finishes his work, but apparantly that is not enough!! I told her if she had anymore problems to send him straight to the principal and that he knew that the principal had permission to paddle him. He is LITERALLY one mistake away from a paddling!
Paul apparantly was a frequent visitor to his principal at Caleb's age, with frequent paddlings!! I asked Paul when he grew out of it. He said FIFTH GRADE!!! I don't think I can handle two+ years of this!!!
He has had some major chores he gets to do when he is done with homework! He is not really enjoying that (and he shouldn't at this point!). He thinks it is unfair that he has to do more/harder chores than his brothers. I was quick to point out that he was much older than them, and he did not have to do hard chores when he was their age!
This has been a growing problem, but ever since the Labor Day trip (which I forgot to post about - I will do that one next) it has been extremely bad! He got back from his kayaking trip with Papa and Daddy and he was tired and moody. We were going to go eat Chinese for dinner. Caleb wanted tacos and started throwing a fit. By the time we got to the car, he was hitting his brothers for no reason and just being rude. I told him to go to his room while I got everyone loaded and ready to go. He went in.
Paul went to his room to tell him to straighten up and get in the car. He said he wasn't going and we couldn't make him. We left him!!
When we got home he had DESTROYED his room. He had thrown stuff everywhere and tore his bed apart. I saw it, turned around and closed the door. It was a LONG weekend with him, and he was only here a day and a half!
Well, last week I got a phone call from a friend saying that Caleb had said a bad word!! I talked to him, he said that he said ass to someone else. I talked to him about it and told him why we don't say those words. That was the end of it.
Friday morning, we are running around taking care of errands so we could go have lunch with the kids. We were going to have to be there for awhile because they don't eat lunch at the same time. I got a call from his teacher on MY CELL PHONE!!! That is serious! She said that he had called some kids jerks and it made her remembered that earlier in the week a student had told her that Caleb had said a bad word, but she was told after Caleb had been picked up.
So we picked Caleb up from school for lunch and went and had a talk! He said that he is bored at school, and he doesn't get to read as much as he wants too. I told him that he HAD to learn other subjects and if he would come home and finish homework in a timely manner, he could read as long as he wanted!!
I went and talked to his teacher. She said that he only gets in trouble when he finishes his work and has nothing to do. He is allowed to read and write when he finishes his work, but apparantly that is not enough!! I told her if she had anymore problems to send him straight to the principal and that he knew that the principal had permission to paddle him. He is LITERALLY one mistake away from a paddling!
Paul apparantly was a frequent visitor to his principal at Caleb's age, with frequent paddlings!! I asked Paul when he grew out of it. He said FIFTH GRADE!!! I don't think I can handle two+ years of this!!!
He has had some major chores he gets to do when he is done with homework! He is not really enjoying that (and he shouldn't at this point!). He thinks it is unfair that he has to do more/harder chores than his brothers. I was quick to point out that he was much older than them, and he did not have to do hard chores when he was their age!
Isaac and School
Isaac is still loving school. He is having a hard time remembering to bring his lunchbox home, though. It is not quite as tramatic now as it was the first week (probably because he has had lots of practice at leaving it now), but it is very frustrating when I am trying to fix his lunch!!
His gingerbread man project... I got a note home last week from the teacher asking if he did the project because she had not seen it. I sent a note to her telling her what it looked like. We went up there Friday to have lunch with the boys and went to see if we saw them hanging outside the class. His was under someone elses name! We moved it to his spot and I told the teacher that afternoon. Apparantly, she held them up in class and asked whose it was and Isaac didn't say anything!!!
He is learning sight words for reading. This has been fun!? I have been writing sentences throughout the house - especially on his bathroom mirror (I have these cool window markers that wash easily!). I make him read the sentences to me. While we are working on recongnizing the words, he is also learning to spell them. It was frustrating for all of us at first, but he is starting to get it! He is doing great and I am very proud of him!
He is so funny! He doesn't ask anyones names. He plays with all of the kids, but doesn't know their names. There is one kids that has the same backpack as Isaac. He always comes home talking about this kid, but always says "the kid with the same backpack as me" like that is the kids name. We keep telling him to ask names, but he apparantly doesn't. Friday we found out that it is not just him. While sitting at the lunch table with him and his class, we asked some of the other kids if they knew their classmates names. Most of them only knew the name of one or two kids. I guess they have not been together too long yet, just seems funny that you spend all day with these people and don't know anyones names!
His gingerbread man project... I got a note home last week from the teacher asking if he did the project because she had not seen it. I sent a note to her telling her what it looked like. We went up there Friday to have lunch with the boys and went to see if we saw them hanging outside the class. His was under someone elses name! We moved it to his spot and I told the teacher that afternoon. Apparantly, she held them up in class and asked whose it was and Isaac didn't say anything!!!
He is learning sight words for reading. This has been fun!? I have been writing sentences throughout the house - especially on his bathroom mirror (I have these cool window markers that wash easily!). I make him read the sentences to me. While we are working on recongnizing the words, he is also learning to spell them. It was frustrating for all of us at first, but he is starting to get it! He is doing great and I am very proud of him!
He is so funny! He doesn't ask anyones names. He plays with all of the kids, but doesn't know their names. There is one kids that has the same backpack as Isaac. He always comes home talking about this kid, but always says "the kid with the same backpack as me" like that is the kids name. We keep telling him to ask names, but he apparantly doesn't. Friday we found out that it is not just him. While sitting at the lunch table with him and his class, we asked some of the other kids if they knew their classmates names. Most of them only knew the name of one or two kids. I guess they have not been together too long yet, just seems funny that you spend all day with these people and don't know anyones names!
Outside Changes
We absolutely LOVE having our OWN house again. We got spoiled the small amount of time we had the house in TX!! We love getting to do what we want without having to answer to ANYONE about it!! Who wants to spend money landscaping a rent house?
The last couple of weeks/weekends we have been working on the outside of the house. We had cleaned out the front flowerbeds a couple of weeks ago and put down new mulch that is not supposed to fade for at least a year. It looks so much cleaner just doing that! We laid weed fabric down before the mulch, so no more weeds to pull out of there!!
We went and got a new Yew for one of the flowerbeds, because out of the two we planted in April, one made it and one died recently. The old one is bigger, but they have spotlights on them and a dead one did not look to nice (go figure). We were told to just fertilize the new one more than the old one and it should catch up pretty quick.
We pulled up all of the mulch around the three trees. We put tree rings around each of them. We put down weed fabric and new mulch, and then planted flowers under the two trees in the front yard. It was not easy finding flowers that will do good in the fall and stay pretty. Especially since we wanted to colors that had some contrast! SO, we chose yellow mums and blue asters. The butterflies have really enjoyed them (and so have I)!
We added a new flowerbed next to the garage. There was nothing over there, so just put in a small one to eventually hide the pipes and dryer vent. We planted a couple of bushes and some flowers in it, put down weed fabric and mulch. Then Paul planted Purple Fountain Grass next to the flowerbed and fence. I can't wait until next Spring/Summer when these plants REALLY fill in!
Paul replaced the lamps outside the garage. The ones they had put on the house were too small! They were the length of one bulb. We wanted to add sensors so that they would turn on and off when it got dark and light. We were just going to use the ones that you screw into the bulb socket and then screw the bulb into it. We couldn't because on the old lamps the lightbulb would not fit with the sensor in. That gives you an idea of how much bigger these lamps are. You can see the sensor is in with the bulb and there is still space to the bottom of the lamp. I really like them because they light up that whole side of the house and part of the front. With no street lights, it makes me feel safer!!
In the back, we had the kids empty the sandbox - kept them busy outside AND wore them out!! There was 800 pounds of sand when we made the thing at the beginning of the summer, so I am not sure the exact amount they emptied, but it was A LOT!!!! Then we moved the sandbox to the back of the yard by the back fence. They will actually get more shade there in the afternoon because of the neighbors trees. More importantly, it covered two of the three poison ivy pits!!! We bought some dirt and covered the third hole. Hopefully with the amount of rain we have had, any poison ivy that was still out there has been washed away. I was out there quite a bit helping Paul and have not started itching YET!! I also have not worn the shoes I was wearing out there since, and I came in about 500 times and washed my hands and arms!!! Am I paranoid or what?
On one of our MANY trips to Lowe's over all of these projects, we saw that all of their lawn furniture was 75% off. We saw a three person swing that said it was $99. We asked if it was clearanced and we were told it was 75% off the $99. We grabbed it (the last one!!). We went to check out and it actually was not clearanced, but the manager said that since we were told it was, several times, they had to give it to us. We got a $99 swing that actually folds into a "hammock" for $25!! We got it assembled and put it out by the sandbox so we can sit out there and relax while the boys play in the sandbox.
Some projects we are planning on doing over the fall/winter/spring is 1. putting a pond/garden where the sandbox WAS. 2. putting some hedges up along the side fence. 3. we are probably going to get a Purple Plum in Oct (that is when our nursery is supposed to get them) and put in the backyard. 4. Taking down the electric fence that is around the backyard and doing one of the buried fences for the dogs - the hotwire just doesn't look good around the entire backyard!!
Here are some pics of what we have gotten done so far:
Front flower beds with new, brighter mulch.
New tree rings, mulch and FLOWERS under our two trees in front yard.
New lamps Paul hung outside garage.
NEW flowerbed next to garage. They will eventually hide the pipes coming from the house and ground.
Purple Fountain Grass, planted at side yard by fence.
The sandbox after we got all of the sand out of it.
This is what the ground looked like when we moved the sandbox. We actually took some grass from the side yard (where the flowerbed is) and covered the spot. Hopefully it will root and grow some grass.
The sandbox moved to back of yard and the new swing/hammock.
The last couple of weeks/weekends we have been working on the outside of the house. We had cleaned out the front flowerbeds a couple of weeks ago and put down new mulch that is not supposed to fade for at least a year. It looks so much cleaner just doing that! We laid weed fabric down before the mulch, so no more weeds to pull out of there!!
We went and got a new Yew for one of the flowerbeds, because out of the two we planted in April, one made it and one died recently. The old one is bigger, but they have spotlights on them and a dead one did not look to nice (go figure). We were told to just fertilize the new one more than the old one and it should catch up pretty quick.
We pulled up all of the mulch around the three trees. We put tree rings around each of them. We put down weed fabric and new mulch, and then planted flowers under the two trees in the front yard. It was not easy finding flowers that will do good in the fall and stay pretty. Especially since we wanted to colors that had some contrast! SO, we chose yellow mums and blue asters. The butterflies have really enjoyed them (and so have I)!
We added a new flowerbed next to the garage. There was nothing over there, so just put in a small one to eventually hide the pipes and dryer vent. We planted a couple of bushes and some flowers in it, put down weed fabric and mulch. Then Paul planted Purple Fountain Grass next to the flowerbed and fence. I can't wait until next Spring/Summer when these plants REALLY fill in!
Paul replaced the lamps outside the garage. The ones they had put on the house were too small! They were the length of one bulb. We wanted to add sensors so that they would turn on and off when it got dark and light. We were just going to use the ones that you screw into the bulb socket and then screw the bulb into it. We couldn't because on the old lamps the lightbulb would not fit with the sensor in. That gives you an idea of how much bigger these lamps are. You can see the sensor is in with the bulb and there is still space to the bottom of the lamp. I really like them because they light up that whole side of the house and part of the front. With no street lights, it makes me feel safer!!
In the back, we had the kids empty the sandbox - kept them busy outside AND wore them out!! There was 800 pounds of sand when we made the thing at the beginning of the summer, so I am not sure the exact amount they emptied, but it was A LOT!!!! Then we moved the sandbox to the back of the yard by the back fence. They will actually get more shade there in the afternoon because of the neighbors trees. More importantly, it covered two of the three poison ivy pits!!! We bought some dirt and covered the third hole. Hopefully with the amount of rain we have had, any poison ivy that was still out there has been washed away. I was out there quite a bit helping Paul and have not started itching YET!! I also have not worn the shoes I was wearing out there since, and I came in about 500 times and washed my hands and arms!!! Am I paranoid or what?
On one of our MANY trips to Lowe's over all of these projects, we saw that all of their lawn furniture was 75% off. We saw a three person swing that said it was $99. We asked if it was clearanced and we were told it was 75% off the $99. We grabbed it (the last one!!). We went to check out and it actually was not clearanced, but the manager said that since we were told it was, several times, they had to give it to us. We got a $99 swing that actually folds into a "hammock" for $25!! We got it assembled and put it out by the sandbox so we can sit out there and relax while the boys play in the sandbox.
Some projects we are planning on doing over the fall/winter/spring is 1. putting a pond/garden where the sandbox WAS. 2. putting some hedges up along the side fence. 3. we are probably going to get a Purple Plum in Oct (that is when our nursery is supposed to get them) and put in the backyard. 4. Taking down the electric fence that is around the backyard and doing one of the buried fences for the dogs - the hotwire just doesn't look good around the entire backyard!!
Here are some pics of what we have gotten done so far:
Front flower beds with new, brighter mulch.
New tree rings, mulch and FLOWERS under our two trees in front yard.
New lamps Paul hung outside garage.
NEW flowerbed next to garage. They will eventually hide the pipes coming from the house and ground.
Purple Fountain Grass, planted at side yard by fence.
The sandbox after we got all of the sand out of it.
This is what the ground looked like when we moved the sandbox. We actually took some grass from the side yard (where the flowerbed is) and covered the spot. Hopefully it will root and grow some grass.
The sandbox moved to back of yard and the new swing/hammock.
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