Friday, June 29, 2007

The Four Year Old Rash

Sunday Bryce broke out in a rash on his face. At first we thought he was just hot because we were outside, so I slathered LOTS of sunscreen on him. The next day his face looked worse, and I was afraid maybe we had not gotten all the sunscreen off of him and he was reacting to it. I put him in another bath and scrubbed him good.

By Monday, he had a rash on his upper chest and shoulders. Now, my kids get FUNKY stuff all the time, so I did not want to take all the kids to the dr and get them sick for something like a fever rash - since there is nothing they can do for it. By Tuesday afternoon, I had decided that since it had moved down his back and stomach he should go in Wednesday - just to make sure it wasn't the beginnings of strep (Caleb gets a rash before he gets strep).

So, Wednesday morning, I took him to the dr. By now the rash was ALL OVER his body. While we were in the waiting room, he asked why he had to see the dr (that just shows how badly this rash was bothering him!!). I told him we had to see what this rash was. He looked down at it and asked what it was (DUH!!! That is why we are here). I told him it was probably just a 4 Year Old Rash - he turned four last week and now he had the rash. The dr walked in and took one look at him and said he had Fifth Disease and then examined him. He did.

For those who have never heard of it, Fifth disease is a virus. You usually don't even know your child has the virus - if they have any symptoms it is like a mild cold. They are contagious when they have the virus. You usually don't know they had it until a couple of weeks later when they break out in a rash. Heat seems to make the rash appear and get worse (that is why it started when we were outside). The rash does not itch and is in no way bothersome. His face looks like he was slapped on both cheeks though! The rash can come and go for several weeks to several months.

Monday evening Paul was complaining that his back hurt. Tuesday morning he woke up complaining that his throat hurt, but we thought it was from the fan blowing on him all night. A couple of hours after he went to work he IMed me and told me he thought he had the flu. When he got home that evening he went to bed. He had a fever, stiff joints, sore muscles and a sore throat and headache.

Wednesday when I called and told him what the dr said he looked it up. He had every symptom for an adult with Fifth Disease. Most adults don't get it, because like the chicken pox, you usually only get it once. I guess Paul had never had it. Usually, the adults don't break out in a rash - I guess we will see in a couple of weeks! Yesterday, he was feeling a lot better, just tired and still kinda had a sore throat.

You gotta love it when your child is infecting others and you don't even know he is sick!!!

Boy Talk

It is starting already! The boys were pinching each other. Bryce said he was going to pinch Caleb's butt. "You pinch my butt I will pinch your nuts off."

Where do they get these things from????

WHY ME?

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Andrew Update

He changes DAILY!!! I just wanted to update where he is at now with everything.

Sleep: He is sleeping 5-6 hour stretches at night now (FINALLY)! He is still sleeping a lot during the day. He gets up around 7ish and eats and stays up for an hour or two and then sleeps the rest of the day (only getting up to eat) until around 5. Then he stays up for several hours and goes to bed for the night. He sleeps best on his stomach, but I try not to let him sleep on his belly unless nothing else works. He mainly sleeps on his side, with his pacifier. When he is on his side or back he flails his arms a lot. I found that if I put this little teddy bear blankie (it has a teddy bear head, but the body is a blanket) against his chest he will wrap his arms around it and not flail. He HATES being swaddled. He spends the entire time fighting to get his hands out (he has been like this since he was a couple of weeks old).

Eating: I usually wake him up right before I go to bed (around 10:30 or so) and he sleeps until somewhere between 3:30 and 5. During the day he is going about 3-4 hours between feedings.

Playing: We have to rotate him around different activities. He seems to get bored easy and then just starts screaming. He has his bouncy seat, a little mat/pillow for tummy time, a gym he lays under on his back and his swing. About the only "thing" he plays with his the above-mentioned teddy bear/blankie (bad news - that was a gift and I asked the person that got it for us where she got it. It was a school fundraiser type thing. So it is not going to be easy to find another one like it!! He is quickly becoming attached!).

He has found his hands and is getting to where when his pacifier "falls out" (he likes to spit it out and scream until someone gets it for him) he trys to put his thumb in his mouth. First off, he can't quite get his hand where he wants it without first punching himself in the face several times, second - his thumb is normally in his fist, so he ends up trying to stick his entire fist in his mouth. It is funny to watch though.

He found his feet the other night while playing with Daddy. I think it was just the way Daddy was holding him because he hasn't messed with them since. I wish I had thought to get the video camera out. He found them, kinda tilted his head and studied them. Then he would talk to them, then scream at them, then cry and then go back to talking and do the whole routine again. Paul and I just sat there and watched him, laughing.

His MOST FAVORITE thing to do is to just look at you (anyone) and talk to you. The sillier the face you make, the more he laughs at you. If you just sit and quietly talk to him, he stares you in the eyes and talks back. It is SOOO sweet!

He is still a very mellow baby. He, for the most part, does not cry a lot. Not much startles him anymore - probably because this house is NEVER quiet!! He sleeps through anything and will go anywhere you want to take him. I can only hope he stays this way as he grows!!!

Daddy told him the other day he was going to have to be a mean little boy because he was just to cute and would make us want another. I told him to call and make his appointment NOW!!!

Oh, he is the fattest little thing! He has fat everywhere - even on the top of his feet and his little toes. I mean actual fat. It is hard to get shoes on him - not because his feet are wide from side to side - they are wide from the top of his foot to the sole of his foot. It is so funny!! He is quickly outgrowing his 0-3 month clothes. He is wearing 0/3-3/6 month clothes now. I am trying to mainly keep him in the 0/3 month to wear those out before moving to the next size!

Angry Andrew



Andrew was unhappy in the living room the other evening, so I brought his little pillow for tummy time to my room. As soon as I layed him down he started trying to "crawl" away and screaming. You may want your volume down for this - but it is funny to watch him get stuck!

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Friendly Neighbors

We went out for a walk this evening, around the neighborhood. We stopped at the park and let the boys play for a while, then we walked to the firestation and then around the circle and back towards home. We get on the road right behind our house and there was an elderly man standing at his fence with a camera pointed across the street. There was a Jeep for sale where the camera was pointed and I thought he was trying to take a picture and told the boys to stop so they did not walk through it. The man's wife walks up to the fence - "Oh, he is going to take a picture of you. Y'all stop!"

We look at each other and obediently stop. He takes the picture and they say "We saw y'all walking by and it was so cute we wanted to take your picture. Do you have internet? We will send it to you."

Now, I am impressed this man is using a digital camera or a computer, much less internet. Paul gives him his email address and we talk to them for awhile. They were very sweet - the kind you want to stop and talk to regularly - let the kids have anything they want, but you always feel bad about leaving. I felt a little better when he said he had 6 kids, 12 grandkids and 12 great grandkids and they all visit regularly and talk regularly. He also started telling us that the most important thing to teach our children is about God.

They were very sweet, but when we got the "photoshow" they sent us - we just couldn't help but to laugh. He kept saying he was going to send a photoshow and we were wondering what kind of show he would make out of one photo. Well, he did a good job. Paul screen captured the video because it did not provide a download option. So, the video is a little choppy, but it is still funny.

AJ's Mood Swings

AJ has been having lots of mood swings lately. It is really funny though. He will be staring out you - laughing and giggling and in a split second start crying. Then, just as quick, he is back at laughing.

This morning, we went to church. We have not been to our church in a few weeks because we were in TX and had company, etc. Normally, up to now, he has slept through church. Today, we decided it was time for him to start going to the nursery. I have kept him with me up to now, because it is just easier for when I need to sneak out and nurse him.

Well, today, he didn't cry at all. Instead he talked ALL THROUGH THE SERMON!! It was so cute though. He was just looking around talking and laughing. One of the ladies in our Sunday School class sits at the other end of the sanctuary and at the front and she said she could hear him talking.

During SS, he slept for about 20 minutes in someones arms. Then he woke up - TALKING - laughing and giggling. Then Daddy and I got in trouble (not really) - for playing with him. We were just making faces - we weren't really playing, but our teacher came and took him from us.

I think Paul was causing it all!!! Andrew likes the shirt he was wearing. He was wearing a navy blue and yellow polo shirt (looks like a bumble bee)> Andrew would just stare at his shirt and laugh!

So, next week we have the four year old Sunday school class. I guess that is as good a time as any to start him in the nursery!!!

Friday, June 22, 2007

Stinky Three Year Old...

Wednesday, on Bryce's birthday, he announced he was no longer a stinky three year old, but now a big four year old. Who knew when he said this, that it would SO work in my favor.

Since he made that comment, when he starts whining or throwing temper tantrums, I say "I thought you weren't a stinky three year old, but a big four year old. I guess you are back to being a stinky three year old." Every time, he has responded "I am not a stinky three year old, I am a big four year old" and straightened up and acted the way he is suppose to.

I guess it is like those who use birthdays to get rid of pacifiers or blankets by saying "only 2 year olds use a pacifier " or whatever - well, only three year olds are stinky in this case!!

Who knew that he would be so insulted by being called a stinky three year old, that I could use it in my favor to get him to behave. He doesn't even respond that way if you take his favorite toy away! WHATEVER WORKS!!!!

Car Troubles

Yesterday, on Paul's way home from work, the clutch went out in his Jeep. He called around locally this morning getting quotes to have it replaced. He found one place that was about $500, but he said that if we would bring him the parts, it would be cheaper (since they mark-up the parts) - we would just pay the labor. The part is about $120 that is how much labor cost!!!

Everywhere else he called is $700+. I sent out an email to our Sunday School class asking for recommendations. Paul always does our car maintanance and repairs, but since this involves removing the transmission - he doesn't want to chance trying it by himself! I have gotten two responses so far, both for the same place. Apparantly the owner of this shop is a preacher that is now in foreign missions. His oldest son runs the place. Unfortunately, we called and their quote was for $725. The good thing though, he seems dependable! So far I have not heard anything, good or bad, about the place with the lower cost!

So, we are down to one vehicle and unfortunately for the guys - it does NOT carry kayaks!!

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Not the Smartest (or Nicest) Big Brother

Caleb came in and told me that Isaac was sticking his head in the toilet. Unfortunately for him, I walked in on him a little while ago telling Isaac to stick his head in the toilet and then watched him try to push him in when he looked up, saw me and got his I-didn't-do-anything look.

Isaac's hair was wet, so apparantly Caleb actually got him pushed in while I was in the other room.

I told Caleb HE was in trouble - and that it wasn't very smart to tell on HIMSELF!!!

Oh, my life in a house full of boys!!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Oh, It Just Gets More Exciting

I took the kids to the park this morning. It was pretty warm and very humid!! Isaac and Bryce kept complaining that they wanted to leave because they were thirsty (I know, what was I thinking not taking drinks in this weather!!). Caleb never complained of being hot or thirsty until we left.

We did not get very far before I hear "Caleb barfed." I thought I misheard, but then I smelt it. The smell about made me sick! We had to drive the rest of the way home with the air on full blast and the windows down!! Then I came home and got to scrub the seat he was in, the seat in front of him and the floor all around with Pine-sol. We have still had to drive with windows down, because now it just smells like pine-sol vomit!!

PS Caleb is fine. After we got home I told him to get in a cool shower. Went to check on him and he had it as HOT as it could get!! I put it on luke-warm and he stayed in for about a minute! I am sure that helped! THen he tried to crawl into bed UNDER his blanket. He came out awhile later and said he needed some HOT soup, and his temperature taken. Couldn't really figure out the "cool off" aspect I guess. After a nap - with no blanket and the fan on, he came out and announced he was as good as new!!!

Isaac and Dentures?


I am looking at the possibility of Isaac needing dentures soon. We picked him up from VBS tonight, and he had lost a tooth while eating ice cream. I told him he needed to lay off the sweets because he lost one Saturday while eating a donut. At least we actually HAVE this one!

This is either number 5 or 6 and he is only 5 years old!! I don't know why my kids start losing teeth so early, but he already has two or three adult teeth!

That is good, maybe he will be able to eat with those two since all the rest are falling out! Let's just see if the tooth fairy remembers to pay him a visit (literally) tonight!

Thanks Mom and Dad




I got this teapot for my birthday from Mom and Dad. It was great getting to see them for my birthday and Father's Day - it has been a while since that has happened!!

Paul took me shopping for my birthday. He even went to the mall with me and all of the boys and took care of the older three while I looked at and tried on clothes. It is so nice having some nice clothes that fit me!!

New Kitchen Decor

Introducing my newest, biggest teacup yet:



We found this at Petsmart a while back and I have been debating getting it for the kitchen - except I wasn't going to put a fish in it!! I was just going to use it for decorating.

Paul brought home the fish he had at his office and said that the fish was not getting taken care of. I mentioned that we should have got the teacup fishbowl. Next I know, we are on our way to Petsmart. Except before we left, Paul put a bigger tank in the car.

He got me the teacup, then we went to his office and set up another tank. I am not sure how, if a smaller tank could not be cared for, he thinks a bigger tank will. I think it was just his way of getting rid of the betta so he could do a different tank (no other fish can be put with a betta).

Paul said something about the fish not having a hiding spot (so he put the plant in it). This morning I am in the kitchen fixing breakfast and I kept hearing glass hitting glass. I went and looked and could not find the fish. After some extensive searching, I found him at the very bottom of the tank, under all of the glass decorations. I thought maybe he was stuck, but apparantly since it is all bent glass (kinda look like boomarangs) he is able to swim through them. Guess he has that hiding space after all!!! Let's hope he knows when to use that hiding spot!

Until the cat does away with the fish....

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Kayaking

Paul and Dad went kayaking this weekend. It was the first time they have gotten to use their kayaks so they were VERY excited about it. I have never seen Paul get up so easily when his alarm went off!

They had a great time Saturday, after the party. Sunday, well I am not going to talk about Sunday, but here are some pictures Paul took of Dad. Maybe Dad got some of Paul - because Paul didn't have any of him with his kayak!!!





Andrew's First "Real" Bath




(I love this photo!!)

Andrew has never really been a good burper after he eats. When he does burp, it is usually followed by milk! We have been seeing my parents a lot lately (which we are loving!!) and Mom is GREAT at getting him to burp and with no milk following it!!

Last night, I called Mom and asked her if I could hire her as our official burper. Andrew ate for about 40 minutes yesterday afternoon. Everytime I would try to make him quit eating (I did not want him to overeat) he would scream and act like he was starving. He does not usually do this, so I thought maybe he was really hungry! Growth spurt, maybe!?

Well, he went to sleep. He woke up right after Paul left to take the boys to VBS. He was gone about 35 minutes and Andrew screamed the entire time. His tummy was hurting and I was not doing anything that was helping. When Paul got home we ate dinner and since Andrew was still unhappy, I decided to get in a warm bath with him.

We got in a filled the tub. While the tub was filling up, I used one of the Johnson's disposable washclothes to clean him up. He loved the bath from the beginning. He even briefly fell asleep, I guess from the warm water and sound of the water running.

Then I turned on the spa. If you have never put soap in a spa, you would not believe what happens. You could not tell there was any soap in the water (the only soap that was in it was the little bit from the disposable washcloth that I cleaned Andrew with). When I turned the spa on, the tub filled with bubbles. Andrew LOVED the bubbles. He laughed and played in them and had a great time - not even a single fuss the entire time we were in it. The second we got out though - he went back to SCREAMING!! Paul asked him if he needed to get back in the tub, he smiled - let out a slight laugh and went back to screaming!!

I may have created a bath monster with his first bath in a big bathtub!!!

Isaac Loses Another Tooth (literally)

Saturday morning, Paul went and got donuts for breakfast. We were all sitting at the table eating and Isaac says "Look, my tooth finally fell out." He has had a loose tooth for about a week now. I asked him when he lost it and he said he had just lost it. I asked where it was and he said he never saw it, but there is a hole now.

It appears as though Isaac swallowed the tooth while eating his donut. I guess he has his calcium for a while.

The tooth fairy forgot to come Saturday night. After I cleaned the room Sunday evening, I asked Isaac if he ever saw any money from the tooth fairy. He said no. I told him that while I was cleaning his room, I found some money on the floor under where his head is. I told him he must have knocked it out from under the pillow and I would give it to him when we went to the store.

Thnak goodness, he believed me. I felt bad, because the last time he lost a tooth, I completely forgot about the tooth fairy!! So, since he did not get anything for the last tooth, he got five dollars this time!

Bryce's 4th Birthday



Somehow this managed to be the only photo I took of the party - I guess because I had the video camera out this time. I am pretty sure Dad took some pictures though!

The fireman got here at about 12:45 (the party started at 1). They brought him presents and gave them to him as soon as they got here. Before we all got back in the house, Bryce was already inside and ripping into his presents. This was not a good thing!!

When kids started getting here, we took them out to the firetruck. They did not get to ride it this year, but enjoyed being on it. Except for Bryce, that is. He came out initially and climbed on the truck and then went back inside. I got him to come back out and play on it for a little while longer, but he was much more interested in playing with the gifts he had already ripped open.

After quite a while on the truck, we went back in for cake. The kids ate cake and ice cream for a while and then disappeared into the boys rooms to play. We let them play while we all talked and then had them come out to finish opening gifts. He got a lot of good gifts!!

The fireman brought him a basketball game and a truck. He also got the games Ants in the Pants, Memory and HiHo Cherry O. He got some bathtub toys, a firetruck flashlight, a giftcard, a garbage truck, binoculars, a rc jeep and I am probably forgetting something, but oh well.

He had a good time, but was definently more interested in playing with what he got this year and not the firetruck. The firemen stayed at the party for about 2 hours. They are such great guys! I am sure they could think of better ways to spend their days than at a party with a bunch of 3 - 8 year olds!!

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Boys go to college to get more knowledge, girls go to jupiter to get more stupider.

Caleb

Thursday, June 14, 2007

ATTITUDE

About the last month to month and a half of school, Isaac found that attitude. You know the one, I-am-a-big-boy-going-to-a-big-school-so-I-can-do-what-I-want-when-I-want-and-don't-have-to-listen-to-anyone attitude!! Hopefully, we can get control of that BEFORE we lose control of it.

My sweet, people-pleasing Isaac is now lost under the attitude (though he can still be sweet when he wants - they all can!) and a self-pleaser!!

Oh, the joys....

One Day At A Time

Well, I had finally started to find my groove of trying to get as close to getting everything done that needed to be done on a daily basis, and then it was summer. So, now I have been starting all over - and I think I am starting to get back in it.

Summer, so far, has been pretty good. The kids are already bored, but I guess that is what I expected. Bryce has been doing a lot better with the attitude. The only "meltdowns" we are having is at naptime/bedtime - and those are sometimes doozies!! I guess he needed someone other than me to play with!

The boys are playing pretty well together, keeping each other occupied - which is really nice to see. Caleb is still bossy, but his brothers seemed to have gotten used to it! I can't say we NEVER have fights or arguements, but all and all it has been a pretty peaceful summer - considering there are four (five in the evenings and weekends) boys in this house!

Now - let me add this is only week 2 of summer (the first full week) and this could all change in a moment!! That is why I am taking it ONE DAY AT A TIME!!

Another 10 Gone!

I have lost 10 pounds since May 22!!!

I don't normally weigh myself. Really! People ask me what I weigh and I say I don't know. They think I just don't want to tell my weight and I get lectured over how I should not mind telling my weight because I am small. I really don't normally know what I weigh! I don't want to know. I am happy with where I was pre-pregnancy and I don't need to have a number to make me feel bigger or smaller than I am!

It is kind of frustrating right now when people start talking about needing to lose weight, because if I join in the conversation they all tell me I am good where I am and I don't need to lose weight. It is not that I am wanting to be a barely-there person, like many young women are deciding to be. I just want to fit into my clothes!!! My wardrobe right now consists of two pairs of jeans and about 6 shirts (several of which I wore while I was pregnant). To some, I might look small, but I am not just being vain when I say something about losing weight. I just want to have clothes to wear!!! When I can get back into my closet full of clothes - I will be content with where I am!!

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Leaving work at 5:40 is late??? Man, I want his job! If I left at 5:40, I'd be flogged for cutting out early! Love you guys! Lindsay

Well, if they were paying him what they are paying you - I wouldn't mind him working late every now and then!! Not to mention the four kids!:-) We love you too!

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

What A Dufous!!

Paul called me at about 5:40 ( a few minutes ago). When I answered the phone I answered by asking if he forgot to call and tell me he was going to be late. He said he had changed the time on his computer to pacific time because he was doing some work on instruments that the time needed to be set for Las Vegas.

The cleaning lady walked by his office. He looked at his clock on his computer and it said 3:20. He was thinking she was there REAL early. Then he started looking around and noticed noticed that there was noone there!!

He forgot to change his clock back. Maybe for Father's Day we should get him a BIG clock for his office!!

YUMMY!!

Paul was eating some Cheetos last night and decided to see what Andrew would do if he let him taste it. He stuck a Cheeto up to his mouth and Andrew kept sticking is tongue out tasting it. You would think he was eating peanut butter. He gets this big smile and then smacks his mouth for several minutes like if you were trying to get peanut butter off the roof of your mouth. Then Paul took a bite and startled Andrew (I think he jumped off the bed!!) with the crunch.

He got one more taste, and that was it, but he really enjoyed it!

Please do not respond with how unhealthy it is to give a two month old chips or how he is too young to eat anything!!

Friday, June 08, 2007

Oh Yea!

In true Andrew fashion, HE PEED ALL OVER THE DOCTOR!! For those of you who don't know, he peed all over the dr when I delivered him!! I guess he is not going to be shy about letting people know what he thinks!!

Andrew's Room

Thanks to all that gave their opinion - it was unanimous (and actually what I was thinking looked best before I asked for opinions) as to which way to hang his name. Here is what it looks like hung (please don't get out the ruler - I know the R and E are too close together which is sad since I spent a couple of hours measuring and marking to hang them!!! That is why Paul does all of the hanging of pics in this house!):


Two Month Check-up

Andrew had his two month appointment this morning. It was good! His weight was 11# 3.2 oz (50%), his length was 23 3/4 (80%) and his head... his poor little head was only 15 in (10%). He listened CAREFULLY to his heart and heard no murmur still! HOORAY!

When the dr came in I asked him if I could talk to him about Caleb before we talked about Andrew. He said sure. I told him what was going on and told him that I had him weighed when they weighed Andrew. He was 54.6#. I asked if he could tell Caleb where he should be with his age. Dr. S is laughing by the point I am done telling him what is going on. "Caleb, you are anything but fat. If someone calls you fat, you tell them that Dr. Stanford is your dr and he said you are perfect. If they still have a problem, you tell them to come see me." Then he just talked to Caleb about not listening to other kids, etc. As he finished up talking to Caleb, he says "Now, your brother, on the other hand, IS FAT!! (He was sitting in my lap with no clothes on, so his little baby rolls were hanging over his diaper). That was before I saw his weight, etc.

I had told the dr that my only concern was whether or not he was getting enough to eat. I told him he has only been eating for about 10 minutes every three to four hours. He eats for about 30-40 minutes twice a day, and then "snacks" the rest of the day. Then he throws up quite a bit every time he eats. The dr said he was obviously doing GREAT and not to worry about it - he is eating what he needs to.

Then he got three shots (luckily they have changed one of the shots to an oral medicine). He does not take oral very well!! Not even with Mylicon - he spits IT out when I am giving it to him, but she said he got enough of it to work.

All in all, he is great and growing like a fat weed!!

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Andrew's Room

I FINALLY got the boys paintings framed and hung. I had to put something on the frame to hang them by, so I have been procrastinating! I took close-ups of each one (they are in order Caleb, Isaac then Bryce) framed, and then one of them all hung.
I was letting Andrew have some tummy-time on the floor while I was in there working and he fell asleep(and Bryce is down for a nap too), so I will hang his name when he wakes up and take a picture of it.



Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Happy Anniversary Sweetie!



This is just a quick four and half minute glance of our life together. I love you and can't wait to make many more memories, not only as a family, but memories of just the two of us as well.

Everytime I hear this song I think of you and our life, so it was only fitting that while our memories are playing, this song is playing with them. Happy 9th anniversary.

My Day

My day started out with this: After I drop the kids off, I had to run to Walmart because we have been out of milk for three days now. When we get home and put up the milk, I sit down and feed Andrew. I start hearing rumbling pants and am lecturing him about not making it all come out the top of his diaper (which he is GREAT at doing). I pick him up and look at his back - nothing! I look at him and he has a huge smile on his face. About that time - my leg is feeling warm. I look down and there is poop all over my leg, running down the arm of the couch. It did not come up the top, but out the side this time! So, I am trying to get Bryce to get me a towel to clean it up. I don't want to move because if I do the poop will go under the cushions on the couch. As Bryce walks up with a towel - Andrew throws up down the front of my shirt! He had just a little poop on him - I am literally covered in poop and throw-up and he was just giggling away about it all (which makes it hard to be too upset with him)!!

It is so GREAT being a mother (seriously - despite it all!)!!!

It's Official

We now have a kindergartener, THIRD grader, and preschooler among us! Oh, how time flies!!

Weight Issues

We went out for dinner last night with some friends (the boys and I). When we got home, almost instantly Caleb said he was fat and needed to go on a diet. I asked him if someone was saying he was fat and he said a few people were. I again told him he wasn't fat, he was right where he needed to be, but he continued to argue that he was fat.


Here is my plan of action.

Friday, Andrew has his two month appointment. I think I am going to take Caleb with me. When the dr comes in I am going to ask to speak to him alone and tell him what is going on. Then I am going to ask him to weigh Caleb and talk to him about his weight. Maybe coming from a dr will be more meaningful then coming from me! Luckily, we have an amazing pediatrician and I know he would be more than happy to do that for me!

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Bad Hairday/Good Mood


I was trying to get a better picture of his bad hairday (if you double-click on the picture it will enlarge and you can see the bad hairday better!) and got this picture instead:

I gave up on trying to get a better picture of the bad hairday because I LOVE this picture and had to stop to play with him. Andrew is definently a morning person! Every morning he wakes up and spends about an hour smiling and laughing - at nothing!! He can stare at the blank wall and smile, but if he sees one of us he laughs or smiles big!! I am not a morning person (especially when the boys come in at 5:30 am ready to start the day) but as soon as I see him smiling and laughing, the screaming, argueing and fighting of his brothers fades away, and it makes it so much easier to get up and get going (and harder - it is hard to leave a happy playful baby)!!

Melts my heart!

VICTORY!!!

I DEFEATED KING KONG!! HE IS ON MY LIVING ROOM FLOOR - DEAD! Bryce went in search for him before I got up. He went fully decked out with ALL of their bug collecting supplies (like any of that would help if King Kong got out)!

Apparantly he buzzed himself to death - which is what I wanted! Our electricity went out for a couple of hours yesterday and the living room was DARK! I could have opened the blinds, but I could not chance freeing King Kong, so we just sat in the dark!

*Insert music notes* We are the champions my friends!

Saturday, June 02, 2007

UH OH

The King Kong of the fly world has disappeared out of my window. That would be great if I knew where it was or that it was gone - but for all I know he could be in my bed waiting to suck my brains out when I go to sleep tonight!!

I Need To Go On A Diet

This is what I heard from Caleb this morning after breakfast.
"No you don't!"
"Oh, what is a diet?"
"Something you don't need. You go on a diet when you want to lose weight."
"Well, then I need a diet. I am fat."
"You are not!"
"Yes I am, for a kid."
"Caleb, you are not fat for a kid or otherwise. You are perfect. You don't need to change anything...."

And so the conversation goes. I would like to give a big thank you to society, the media, etc for making anyone feel like they are not good enough, but ESPECIALLY our kids! It used to be just the girls you hear about that take drastic measures to "fit in." I was talking to someone yesterday who said her 8 year old nephew was making himself throw-up. He was caught at school, by his teachers, several times.

Caleb was not around when I was hearing about this. It is very disturbing to me that I hear this, and the next morning my 8 year old is telling me he is fat! For the record, if anything Caleb is underweight, but I really think he is right where he is supposed to be!

What should I expect in a society where a parent can sue a fast food restaraunt because it made their child fat. Not only CAN they sue, but they WIN! What happened to parents being in control of their children. If YOU take YOUR child to McDonalds for breakfast, lunch and dinner because you are too lazy to cook a semi-healthy meal at home, then maybe YOU need to be sued!

What message does this send to our children? Instead of complaining about our children being overweight, lets encourage who they are on the inside. As long as we are responsible for the grocery shopping and the cooking, then we are responsible for the size of our children (in most circumstances). A child having one unhealthy thing to eat everyday is not going to make them overweight if they are eating healthy meals everyday. Many schools have done away with vending machines and soda machines, so if the parents by HEALTHY food and PREPARE healthy food, there should not be a problem!

This is just another example of the media says one thing but does another. They talk about how we should encourage our children and let them be who they are, but every billboard, magazine and tv shows say the opposite. They are continuously bombarded with images of who they are "supposed" to be and then feel that they "have" to fit into that mold or they are noone.

This has always been an issue that has really bothered me. Caleb has jokingly said something about being fat or calling himself "gut" because he can eat A LOT!! He was not joking this morning. He really thinks he is fat!

Just another case of where you want to protect your child from all of the sad, bad and evil. But, you can't! Some day you have to release them to the evil embrace of the world. To completely shelter them now could prove fatal later - but it is HARD!! Instead, you have to build their self-esteem and self-confidence up to where they can handle anything they see or hear.

Just another lesson in parenting that slaps me in the face when I least expect it!!

Friday, June 01, 2007

So This Is How It Is Going To Be...

We are having a bad problem with flies, what's new right? Comes with the territory with where we live. Well, today the boys found a "fly" in the window in our living room. They kept telling me about it, and I was getting frustrated, because it is not the first fly that has been in our house. They forgot to mention that it was a fly the size of Texas!! Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration, but not much! This thing is a good two inches long and inch wide.

Isaac was talking to my Dad on the phone and was telling him about it. Isaac told him that this fly was going to suck my brain out when I go to sleep tonight. Guess who will not be going to sleep tonight!!

I closed the blinds - and the curtains (I never close the curtains). My hope is that this monster will kill itself trying to get out! In the meantime, I have to HEAR it trying to escape - over the television and kids!! Yeah, it is that loud!

I would get Caleb to kill it (I would puke if I heard that thing smoosh) but here is the scenario - I would have to go in another room (so I don't hear it) while he did it. He would either a) make it mad and have it sucking everyones brains out or b) catch it and keep it as a pet. Neither one of these sound good to me. If he did kill it, he would leave the leftovers for me to clean - and that, too, would probably make me loose my dinner.

What happened to me being the princess of this house and the guys taking care of me? They are all so brave that, usually at bedtime everyone wants their doors left open - tonight they could not close them quick enough! They must have scared themselves while talking about how it was going to suck MY brains out (not that I have any to spare at this point!)!!

Opinions Please?

A

Here are the letters I made for Andrew's room, but I need some advice on how to hang them. Picture A or B?
B