I don't know how long this video will work, it is already disabled on YouTube for some reason, but it was SOOOOOO funny. My mom sent me the YouTube link and it didn't work, so I did some googling until I found it somewhere else. Make sure to turn up your sound so you can hear all the words!!!
I can't figure out how to embed this type of video, so you'll have to click on the link. Sorry!
singing mom video
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Fire ants bites and strep throat
Hi Everyone,
I have strep again, ugh. But I found an old bottle of Keflex in my medicine box which I started yesterday and in the last couple of hours I've started to feel a lot better. I'm sure I'm a strep carrier which is why I get it all the time (this is what, my 3rd case this year?). I didn't even bother going to the doctor, decided to save myself $35 when I know this is what I have. I have the leftover Keflex from a previous case of strep. I took the first course of Ab's, then went in for a re-swab, which came back positive again, even though I was symtom free. So I was prescribed the Keflex, but I decided not to take it, since I didn't feel sick. I never did get symptoms, so I had the full bottle leftover. This is another reason I'm sure I am a carrier, since carriers will test positive even when they're not sick.
AND, last night at mutual I got attacked by fireants. I have about 20 bites on my left foot. Anyone whose had fireant bites know how annoying they are. They've all blistered up and my foot is nicely swollen. But I won't complain too much because I heard a story last night of a lady in our ward who got bit by a huge centipede IN HER BED. The centipedes they have out here in central Texas are like from a horror movie, I'm not kidding. They are like 8 inches long, black, with RED heads. They are the creepiest looking things ever. Thankfully for us they seem to only be a problem if your property is adjacent to some open space, or new construction. None of that in my neighborhood, and I've never seen centipedes around here. Or scorpions. Out in Steiner Ranch (yeah, now I'm glad we don't live out there), they regularly have centipedes and scorpions. I just could not handle that. The occasional roach I see scuttling around is no big deal compared to centipedes and scorpions.
So, I have re-instated our responsibility charts. Here is my list for the boys:
Get dressed
Put dishes in sink/dw
Brush teeth AM/PM
On-time for school
Reading practice
Other school practice
Piano practice
No T.V. Mon.-Thurs.
Clean up toys/artwork/experiments
Dirty clothes in Dad's closet
Personal prayers
Quiet, no getting up after lights out
So the deal is that they get 5 cents for each of these that they do without complaint. BUT, they still have to do them. So, they can either do them cheerfully, and get paid (they could earn $3.60 per week or something like that), or, if they give me a hard time, still have to do them, and not get paid. When we did responsibility charts before, it worked quite well, so I have high hopes for this. The boys have been pretty good, actually, I just think we need things to be a bit more systematic around here.
Ok, here's some funny things Mosey has said the past couple of days. We have a treat box that the boys can choose from after their reading practice. Mosey has been doing reading practice, too, but he still wants treats between times (imagine that). So yesterday he was pestering me about letting him choose a treat, and I was telling him no, unless he wanted to do more reading practice. And he said to me, "But mom, it's no big deal if I get another treat!" That made me chuckle. He get's these funny little phrases from me and Ben, and he actually uses them correctly! Here's another example of that. The boys tend to ask me where things are, as if I have this supernatural power of knowing where any and everything is at any particular point in time. So at times I get a bit exasperated, and I'll say, "I have no clue where xx is, sorry!" So now, Mosey has turned this around on me. He came up to me and asked me where his movie was (he carries around the DVD's he checks out from the library everywhere, don't ask me why). So I asked him, "Well Mosey, where did you last have your movie?" And he answered back, "I have no clue, mom!" Ha ha ha. He's been using this phrase for lots of other things too, and it always makes me laugh (where did you put your shoes? Where did you drop that apple core? Why did you draw with marker all over your legs?).
Ok, I better close. Mosey's pestering me to come play with him and I feel way too guilty being on the computer when he's asking to play with me.
I have strep again, ugh. But I found an old bottle of Keflex in my medicine box which I started yesterday and in the last couple of hours I've started to feel a lot better. I'm sure I'm a strep carrier which is why I get it all the time (this is what, my 3rd case this year?). I didn't even bother going to the doctor, decided to save myself $35 when I know this is what I have. I have the leftover Keflex from a previous case of strep. I took the first course of Ab's, then went in for a re-swab, which came back positive again, even though I was symtom free. So I was prescribed the Keflex, but I decided not to take it, since I didn't feel sick. I never did get symptoms, so I had the full bottle leftover. This is another reason I'm sure I am a carrier, since carriers will test positive even when they're not sick.
AND, last night at mutual I got attacked by fireants. I have about 20 bites on my left foot. Anyone whose had fireant bites know how annoying they are. They've all blistered up and my foot is nicely swollen. But I won't complain too much because I heard a story last night of a lady in our ward who got bit by a huge centipede IN HER BED. The centipedes they have out here in central Texas are like from a horror movie, I'm not kidding. They are like 8 inches long, black, with RED heads. They are the creepiest looking things ever. Thankfully for us they seem to only be a problem if your property is adjacent to some open space, or new construction. None of that in my neighborhood, and I've never seen centipedes around here. Or scorpions. Out in Steiner Ranch (yeah, now I'm glad we don't live out there), they regularly have centipedes and scorpions. I just could not handle that. The occasional roach I see scuttling around is no big deal compared to centipedes and scorpions.
So, I have re-instated our responsibility charts. Here is my list for the boys:
Get dressed
Put dishes in sink/dw
Brush teeth AM/PM
On-time for school
Reading practice
Other school practice
Piano practice
No T.V. Mon.-Thurs.
Clean up toys/artwork/experiments
Dirty clothes in Dad's closet
Personal prayers
Quiet, no getting up after lights out
So the deal is that they get 5 cents for each of these that they do without complaint. BUT, they still have to do them. So, they can either do them cheerfully, and get paid (they could earn $3.60 per week or something like that), or, if they give me a hard time, still have to do them, and not get paid. When we did responsibility charts before, it worked quite well, so I have high hopes for this. The boys have been pretty good, actually, I just think we need things to be a bit more systematic around here.
Ok, here's some funny things Mosey has said the past couple of days. We have a treat box that the boys can choose from after their reading practice. Mosey has been doing reading practice, too, but he still wants treats between times (imagine that). So yesterday he was pestering me about letting him choose a treat, and I was telling him no, unless he wanted to do more reading practice. And he said to me, "But mom, it's no big deal if I get another treat!" That made me chuckle. He get's these funny little phrases from me and Ben, and he actually uses them correctly! Here's another example of that. The boys tend to ask me where things are, as if I have this supernatural power of knowing where any and everything is at any particular point in time. So at times I get a bit exasperated, and I'll say, "I have no clue where xx is, sorry!" So now, Mosey has turned this around on me. He came up to me and asked me where his movie was (he carries around the DVD's he checks out from the library everywhere, don't ask me why). So I asked him, "Well Mosey, where did you last have your movie?" And he answered back, "I have no clue, mom!" Ha ha ha. He's been using this phrase for lots of other things too, and it always makes me laugh (where did you put your shoes? Where did you drop that apple core? Why did you draw with marker all over your legs?).
Ok, I better close. Mosey's pestering me to come play with him and I feel way too guilty being on the computer when he's asking to play with me.
Monday, September 24, 2007
It is Fall!!
Fall is here. So why is it still so hot outside? LOL
Yesterday was Church day (as the boys call Sundays). We were there on time!! Hurray. Thank you Ben for helping so much.
Ben got a new calling, he is now the Webelos pack leader (is that the right name?). So he will get to go to Sunday School with me and Priesthood meeting, instead of wrangling hyperactive 7 and 8 year olds. Hopefully this isn't an out of the frying pan, into the fire sort of move.
Yesterday afternoon I cooked up a storm. Made chicken enchiladas, which I love, although they are not low-calorie. Also made an apple pie with the boys with some apples that were past their prime (always a good thing to do with produce before it goes bad). The boys had a little too much fun helping me make the pie crust and flour pretty much got everywhere. And then Joseph thought it would be fun to pour flour into a couple of water glasses, so then there was paste everywhere. Oh well, we're making memories, right? The pie was good. Also not low-calorie. The crust takes a cup of shortening, and the filling called for 1/2 cup of butter, although I reduced that to 1/4 cup. Still lots and lots of fat grams, but I've been pretty good, only eating about half a slice. Of course I did have 2 wedges of the cookie cake served at the Standards Night fireside last night. That went well, although a lot of work. We had displays along the walls of the cultural hall, for each of the topics in For the Strength of Youth. I was in charge of the music and dancing display, and the entertainment and media display. I helped set up before hand, served out the cookie cake during the reception beforehand, and then helped clean everything up at the end. It was fun although my legs got pretty bad by the end of the evening. Too much walking around, dragging tables, carrying chairs, etc., etc. I really like our new bishop (liked our old one too, but I'm just getting to know the new one). He spoke about half the time-- the first half of the program some of the Laurels and Priests spoke. I told Ben when I got home that his mannerisms remind me of a general authority, maybe Elder Eyring. Anyway, it was a good night.
That's it for today!! This afternoon I'm taking Mosey to the library right after preschool, then it's TKD later on for the boys, then FHE, then bed!! (I'm already looking forward to going to bed, not a good thing for a Monday!)
Yesterday was Church day (as the boys call Sundays). We were there on time!! Hurray. Thank you Ben for helping so much.
Ben got a new calling, he is now the Webelos pack leader (is that the right name?). So he will get to go to Sunday School with me and Priesthood meeting, instead of wrangling hyperactive 7 and 8 year olds. Hopefully this isn't an out of the frying pan, into the fire sort of move.
Yesterday afternoon I cooked up a storm. Made chicken enchiladas, which I love, although they are not low-calorie. Also made an apple pie with the boys with some apples that were past their prime (always a good thing to do with produce before it goes bad). The boys had a little too much fun helping me make the pie crust and flour pretty much got everywhere. And then Joseph thought it would be fun to pour flour into a couple of water glasses, so then there was paste everywhere. Oh well, we're making memories, right? The pie was good. Also not low-calorie. The crust takes a cup of shortening, and the filling called for 1/2 cup of butter, although I reduced that to 1/4 cup. Still lots and lots of fat grams, but I've been pretty good, only eating about half a slice. Of course I did have 2 wedges of the cookie cake served at the Standards Night fireside last night. That went well, although a lot of work. We had displays along the walls of the cultural hall, for each of the topics in For the Strength of Youth. I was in charge of the music and dancing display, and the entertainment and media display. I helped set up before hand, served out the cookie cake during the reception beforehand, and then helped clean everything up at the end. It was fun although my legs got pretty bad by the end of the evening. Too much walking around, dragging tables, carrying chairs, etc., etc. I really like our new bishop (liked our old one too, but I'm just getting to know the new one). He spoke about half the time-- the first half of the program some of the Laurels and Priests spoke. I told Ben when I got home that his mannerisms remind me of a general authority, maybe Elder Eyring. Anyway, it was a good night.
That's it for today!! This afternoon I'm taking Mosey to the library right after preschool, then it's TKD later on for the boys, then FHE, then bed!! (I'm already looking forward to going to bed, not a good thing for a Monday!)
6 year old portraits
Here are their six year old portraits. Ok, only a month late... Yesterday after church I took the boys in the back yard for a few pictures. Would have tried some more varied positions/backgrounds, but the mosquitoes were pretty bad so we had to be fast. As you see they're getting a little too manly for many smiles. Gotta be fast with the shutter finger to catch them!
I sure love these boys!
Brigham!!
I have more pictures of Brigham only because overall I have more pictures of Joseph (he is typically a lot more interested in getting pictures taken than Brigham!), so I'm trying to even things up a bit.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
"Blubby Ell"
Hi All,
I need to get back into the habit of the more frequent, *shorter* updates. So I will try.
Yesterday was the boys' TKD belt graduation, they are now senior yellow belts. Next up, green belt! Green belt is when they start sparring, memorizing patterns, and all the real fun stuff. I didn't take any pictures. Tried, and then when I turned on my camera realized I didn't have a memory card in it. Oops. But they were cute. Joseph still got all wide-eyed and distracted with all the big kids around, but at least he wasn't doing his hook kicks across his leg! And he answered a couple of questions correctly, too. Afterwards we went to Piccolomo, an Italian gelato place which was very good, although expensive. $2.50 for a small cup. Once in a while is ok, though, and I've always wanted to try gelato.
Today was a clean-the-house and run-errands day. Typical Saturday. Our van needed new front tires. The tires were only maybe a year and a half old, but the alignment was off on the front tires and they both were pretty bald on the outside edges. Makes me nervous driving on bad tires. I was once on the freeway, back in Simi Valley, with all 3 kids in the back seat, and a car in the lane *right* next to me had a blow out, and it was so scary. The guy was thankfully able to regain control of his car very quickly, and everything was fine, but it sure scared the dickens out of me. A week or so ago I was driving around town, just doing typical stuff, and during the course of that day I saw 4 serious car wrecks, including one that I'm pretty sure must have been a fatality. Did I already mention that? I can't remember. That last one really, really shook me up. It was really terrible. One of the other ones was pretty bad, too, and we saw a guy being carried away on a stretcher. Pretty weird, all that in one day. Anyway, it got me thinking about my van, how we need new tires, how I skipped the 30,000 mile tune-up, and I decided we better do something about it. We're going to drive out to Phoenix for Thanksgiving in a couple of months as well, so we may as well get the maintenance stuff taken care of before then.
Tonight Mosey was in fine form. I love the things 3 year olds say. We were working on some letter flash cards, and then later I was quizzing him, saying a word and then asking him what letter it starts with. He kept saying, "Mmm, ahhh," (he always says "mmm, ahhh... mmm, ahhh" when he's thinking about something, it's really cute), "I *fink* that's a weird letter A!" It was always, a "weird letter" something or other. "That letter makes a weird sound like aaaaa." Everything was weird to him I guess! Then I was putting him in bed, and he was wiggling around like usual. I kept telling him to lie still, but he just cant. He turned over on his back and stuck his arms and legs up into the air and said, "Mom, what shape am I curled up into?" I said, "That looks kind of like the letter U." I thought he was still thinking about letters. Then he said, "No, this is not the letter U. I'm curled up into the shape of a dead cockroach!" Ha ha ha ha ha!!!! He's seen too many of those in his short little life. But he wasn't done yet. He kept wiggling around and talking, and I finally said to him, "Mosey, you need to lie still and close your eyes so that sleep can come to you." A few seconds later a car passed by on the road outside our house, sending a flash of headlights through the window. Mosey excitedly said, "Mom, I just saw the shadow of sleep go out of my bedroom door!" I think he thought some mysterious object "sleep" was literally going to come to him if he lay still and quiet. Funny kid.
I had a parent-teacher conference with Brigham's teacher on Thursday afternoon. That week she was doing evaluations of each student to sort of see where they are academically. He's doing fine socially (she told me that day the boys in the class were having some sort of discussion about who was Brigham's friend-- they were all vying for the honor I guess), he has good phonemic awareness, his math skills are good, his writing and art work are very good. Except she said he was behind in reading. It is true he is not as excited about reading as Joseph is, but still it bothered me a lot to hear that. So we're practicing very diligently. But then Friday afternoon he brought a book home from school (Fridays are their library day), and he sat down on the couch and read the whole thing quite easily, no help from me at all. So I don't really think he's that far behind, if at all. I'll make a video of it tomorrow to post here and you can tell me if you think he's behind. Brigham is just so single-minded, if he was thinking about anything else at all during the time the teacher was evaluating, she could easily think he's behind, when really he was just distracted thinking of something else. But still, reading is so important, and being a good reader is so vital to everything else they will do in school, I have recommitted myself to working with both boys much more than I have been doing.
Joseph has been watching Harry Potter, the Goblet of Fire. There is one scene in which Ron Weasley opens a package from his mom containing his dress robes which are really awful. He is horrified and says, (excuse my french, I'm just quoting), "Bloody hell!" Joseph, not having any idea what this means, has started using the phrase now and then, sort of as an exclamation mark to what he said before (although he pronounces it "Blubby-ell"). So I had to have a talk with him yesterday before school about not saying that around other people because those aren't such nice words. I'm not sure exactly why "bloody" is vulgar in Britain, but I understand that it is, and certainly "hell" isn't a nice word for a 6 year old to be saying. I told him that when people say "hell" in that way, it comes from the phrase "go to hell," which is a *really* mean thing to say. We should never wish that someone goes to hell. He seemed to understand that. I never know what is best to do in this situation. Do I ignore it, trusting that he'll soon enough get tired of it and stop on his own, or do I say something about it and bring it to his attention that it isn't a nice word, running the risk of him saying it even more to get attention or to shock people? A couple of years ago he and Brigham were really into the potty talk, and the more I told them not to say potty words, the more they seemed to delight in saying them as often as possible! I finally told Joseph I didn't mind if he said "blubby-ell" around the house since I knew he wasn't *really* saying bad words (once I told him those were bad words, he emphatically told me he wasn't saying "bloody hell," but actually "blubby-ell"), but he shouldn't say it at school or around other people since it sounded a lot like those bad words, and they might get their feelings hurt if they thought he was saying bad words to them. Hopefully that will be the end of "blubby-ell."
Well, this wasn't much shorter than my normal updates. Oh well. Sorry about that. I'll be shorter tomorrow! (Maybe).
I need to get back into the habit of the more frequent, *shorter* updates. So I will try.
Yesterday was the boys' TKD belt graduation, they are now senior yellow belts. Next up, green belt! Green belt is when they start sparring, memorizing patterns, and all the real fun stuff. I didn't take any pictures. Tried, and then when I turned on my camera realized I didn't have a memory card in it. Oops. But they were cute. Joseph still got all wide-eyed and distracted with all the big kids around, but at least he wasn't doing his hook kicks across his leg! And he answered a couple of questions correctly, too. Afterwards we went to Piccolomo, an Italian gelato place which was very good, although expensive. $2.50 for a small cup. Once in a while is ok, though, and I've always wanted to try gelato.
Today was a clean-the-house and run-errands day. Typical Saturday. Our van needed new front tires. The tires were only maybe a year and a half old, but the alignment was off on the front tires and they both were pretty bald on the outside edges. Makes me nervous driving on bad tires. I was once on the freeway, back in Simi Valley, with all 3 kids in the back seat, and a car in the lane *right* next to me had a blow out, and it was so scary. The guy was thankfully able to regain control of his car very quickly, and everything was fine, but it sure scared the dickens out of me. A week or so ago I was driving around town, just doing typical stuff, and during the course of that day I saw 4 serious car wrecks, including one that I'm pretty sure must have been a fatality. Did I already mention that? I can't remember. That last one really, really shook me up. It was really terrible. One of the other ones was pretty bad, too, and we saw a guy being carried away on a stretcher. Pretty weird, all that in one day. Anyway, it got me thinking about my van, how we need new tires, how I skipped the 30,000 mile tune-up, and I decided we better do something about it. We're going to drive out to Phoenix for Thanksgiving in a couple of months as well, so we may as well get the maintenance stuff taken care of before then.
Tonight Mosey was in fine form. I love the things 3 year olds say. We were working on some letter flash cards, and then later I was quizzing him, saying a word and then asking him what letter it starts with. He kept saying, "Mmm, ahhh," (he always says "mmm, ahhh... mmm, ahhh" when he's thinking about something, it's really cute), "I *fink* that's a weird letter A!" It was always, a "weird letter" something or other. "That letter makes a weird sound like aaaaa." Everything was weird to him I guess! Then I was putting him in bed, and he was wiggling around like usual. I kept telling him to lie still, but he just cant. He turned over on his back and stuck his arms and legs up into the air and said, "Mom, what shape am I curled up into?" I said, "That looks kind of like the letter U." I thought he was still thinking about letters. Then he said, "No, this is not the letter U. I'm curled up into the shape of a dead cockroach!" Ha ha ha ha ha!!!! He's seen too many of those in his short little life. But he wasn't done yet. He kept wiggling around and talking, and I finally said to him, "Mosey, you need to lie still and close your eyes so that sleep can come to you." A few seconds later a car passed by on the road outside our house, sending a flash of headlights through the window. Mosey excitedly said, "Mom, I just saw the shadow of sleep go out of my bedroom door!" I think he thought some mysterious object "sleep" was literally going to come to him if he lay still and quiet. Funny kid.
I had a parent-teacher conference with Brigham's teacher on Thursday afternoon. That week she was doing evaluations of each student to sort of see where they are academically. He's doing fine socially (she told me that day the boys in the class were having some sort of discussion about who was Brigham's friend-- they were all vying for the honor I guess), he has good phonemic awareness, his math skills are good, his writing and art work are very good. Except she said he was behind in reading. It is true he is not as excited about reading as Joseph is, but still it bothered me a lot to hear that. So we're practicing very diligently. But then Friday afternoon he brought a book home from school (Fridays are their library day), and he sat down on the couch and read the whole thing quite easily, no help from me at all. So I don't really think he's that far behind, if at all. I'll make a video of it tomorrow to post here and you can tell me if you think he's behind. Brigham is just so single-minded, if he was thinking about anything else at all during the time the teacher was evaluating, she could easily think he's behind, when really he was just distracted thinking of something else. But still, reading is so important, and being a good reader is so vital to everything else they will do in school, I have recommitted myself to working with both boys much more than I have been doing.
Joseph has been watching Harry Potter, the Goblet of Fire. There is one scene in which Ron Weasley opens a package from his mom containing his dress robes which are really awful. He is horrified and says, (excuse my french, I'm just quoting), "Bloody hell!" Joseph, not having any idea what this means, has started using the phrase now and then, sort of as an exclamation mark to what he said before (although he pronounces it "Blubby-ell"). So I had to have a talk with him yesterday before school about not saying that around other people because those aren't such nice words. I'm not sure exactly why "bloody" is vulgar in Britain, but I understand that it is, and certainly "hell" isn't a nice word for a 6 year old to be saying. I told him that when people say "hell" in that way, it comes from the phrase "go to hell," which is a *really* mean thing to say. We should never wish that someone goes to hell. He seemed to understand that. I never know what is best to do in this situation. Do I ignore it, trusting that he'll soon enough get tired of it and stop on his own, or do I say something about it and bring it to his attention that it isn't a nice word, running the risk of him saying it even more to get attention or to shock people? A couple of years ago he and Brigham were really into the potty talk, and the more I told them not to say potty words, the more they seemed to delight in saying them as often as possible! I finally told Joseph I didn't mind if he said "blubby-ell" around the house since I knew he wasn't *really* saying bad words (once I told him those were bad words, he emphatically told me he wasn't saying "bloody hell," but actually "blubby-ell"), but he shouldn't say it at school or around other people since it sounded a lot like those bad words, and they might get their feelings hurt if they thought he was saying bad words to them. Hopefully that will be the end of "blubby-ell."
Well, this wasn't much shorter than my normal updates. Oh well. Sorry about that. I'll be shorter tomorrow! (Maybe).
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
September 19 update
Hello everyone,
I don't have much to update this week, for some reason. But I haven't written anything for a week, and Benjamin will be getting his mail tomorrow, so I figure I should write something.
Things have been moving along pretty well around here. School is going fine for the boys. Mosey is doing well at preschool. On Monday after school he told me, "Mom, preschool was pretty short today," which I figure means he was having fun! I've been reasonably productive at home, I don't think I'll ever feel like I'm totally on top of things, but I guess that's just life. I think I finally have all my artwork on the walls, although I can't find the Noah's ark and animal prints I had in Brigham's room. They are pretty large, so shouldn't be able to hide very well, but I can't find them. And I still have a few boxes of odds and ends to unpack, and all the garage stuff to organize, so I can't get too complacent here.
Here are a few tidbits about my week.
Magnetix are very cool toys, and my boys love them and play with them all the time, so all that is good. But they are a pain to clean up. The little metal balls (size of marbles), roll EVERYWHERE on my tile floor, underneath everything. Last Saturday night I spent probably an hour moving couches and chairs, swiping underneath heavy pieces of furniture with a broom to try and round up all the pieces. I'm tempted to put them up, because they are just so hard to clean up, and the boys can't really help the pieces from rolling around, but they play with them all the time, so I probably shouldn't...
Mosey is in love with his Shrek shirt he got from Grandma Jackee. He would wear it every day if I let him. We've had a few battles over this shirt already, when I've had to wash it, or simply don't want him wearing it day after day! He was pestering me all day about it yesterday, and as soon as the dryer cycle was done, he was in the laundry room fishing it out of the laundry basket. And he's wearing it again today. I'm too tired to fight him on it.
Brigham takes after his uncle Brigham in so many ways, one of them being his absent-mindedness. Christine, is Brigham still as absent minded as he was as a kid? I hope not! Brigham just can't do more than one thing at a time, since he gets so focused on that one thing he is doing. Getting dressed in the morning can be tough. He is also my most vociferous talker, so he gets involved talking about something while he's supposed to be getting dressed, and he'll take off his pajamas and then put them all back on again! Or put on his shorts forgetting about his undies. Or put his shoes on without his socks. Or simply forget about getting dressed altogether and just stand there talking and talking about something or other. So I'll (as gently as I can) remind him to get dressed, and then he gets really mad! "I AMMMM, mom!" This morning he was getting dressed and he was putting on his shorts before his undies, so I said to him, "Brigham, put your undies on first." Out of habit he started to say, "I AM putting my undies on, mom!" Then he looked down and said, "Oh. These aren't my undies." Made me laugh! Seriously, though, he needs to work on his multi-tasking skills! He also desperately wants another cat. I've been scouring Craigslist, but the right one just hasn't popped up yet. And Ben doesn't really want to get another one. But last night in his prayers he said, "And please bless us to get another cat," and afterwards Ben and I just looked at each other. So maybe he's changing his mind.
Joseph is doing well. He keeps Brigham's tall tales in check. Brigham loves to tell tall tales (last week one of them was how his teacher had a zoo with every animal in the "entire world" in her backyard; this morning it was one about how a kid in his class fell and hit is head and died), but Joseph can see right through them. He is my realist. Except when it comes to his "club house" in the back yard. He has big plans, and has been asking me more and more when I'm going to start building his club house. I hate to shatter his plans and dreams, but most of what he wants just isn't going to happen (electricity, furniture, a secret basement). But I really should spend some time with him and do a few things. His "club house" is really a small wooden structure out behind the pool. It has a swing attached, and a rope, and a couple of ladders leading up to a platform. Except most of the rungs of the ladders are broken, there's no slide, so it's really not all *that* fun. Maybe this weekend we'll repair the ladder rungs. Joseph has also learned to snap his fingers! I guess this has been a big thing among the 1st graders because every day the boys come home with different snapping techniques, and stories of who can snap their fingers, who can't, etc., etc. Joseph can do it pretty well! Brigham's still working on it.
Ben is still enjoying work, mostly. No talk of leaving and interviewing at different companies, which is a GOOD sign, and also a record for the longest he's kept a job before thinking about leaving. He's reading the Harry Potter books in Spanish. Ben is NOT a fiction reader, and I think the only fiction books he's read in the past 15 years have probably been in Spanish! He's on Book 2. The boys and I are still making our way through the audio books, we're on book 5 now.
I think I'm over my steroid withdrawal, which is good. It wasn't as bad this time as last time. The physical effects were still pretty yucky, but emotionally it was a lot better than last time. I had a followup appointment yesterday, and I did gain 2 pounds during the whole thing, but I guess it could have been worse. I've seen definite improvement, although I still hope to see more. I think it took probably 3 weeks to see the full effects last time, and it has only been 2 weeks, so I hope I gain back even more over the next few days. Everything is a lot better, although nothing is totally better. Which is fine, I probably can't expect things to completely go away. My strength is a lot better, although not where I'd like it to be. I can make it up the stairs, but it is still difficult, and I still can't go up and down more than a few times a day. Last weekend I was sweeping the floor in the downstairs. Before, I probably would have been able to do only one or two rooms before running out of steam. Now I can sweep the whole downstairs, but afterwards I really had just had it. I couldn't really even stand up anymore. It was a little discouraging, because I was hoping to really get all my strength and stamina back. But still, things are so much better than they were. I have some residual spasticity, but that has improved a lot. That's probably where I've seen the most improvement, and it was also what was making walking so very difficult. I think I'll probably always have a limp now, which is fine, but I can get around mostly without my cane now, which is doing wonders for my self-esteem. LOL. My doctor said he thought he'd have to put me on anti-spasticity meds, but after seeing my improvement, he's going to hold off on that, which made me *very* happy. My right hand is still numb, but the spasticity is totally gone in my fingers, so I can type normally again. So that's the news on the medical front. I have another appointment in 6 weeks.
We will hopefully be starting on our new roof this week. The city has the permit ready and is just waiting for approval from our HOA (I have been calling them about this for 2 weeks, but yesterday I really pestered some people, so hopefully they'll get the approval faxed over today). I'm keeping my fingers crossed for good weather over the next few weeks, so they can get it done fast before any hurricanes come.
Well, this ended up being pretty long for a week with no updates! I'll leave you with a couple of pictures I found on my old computer's hard drive (I've been transferring files onto my new computer). It's amazing to me how much my boys have grown. I spent probably half an hour last night with the boys looking through old pictures.
I don't have much to update this week, for some reason. But I haven't written anything for a week, and Benjamin will be getting his mail tomorrow, so I figure I should write something.
Things have been moving along pretty well around here. School is going fine for the boys. Mosey is doing well at preschool. On Monday after school he told me, "Mom, preschool was pretty short today," which I figure means he was having fun! I've been reasonably productive at home, I don't think I'll ever feel like I'm totally on top of things, but I guess that's just life. I think I finally have all my artwork on the walls, although I can't find the Noah's ark and animal prints I had in Brigham's room. They are pretty large, so shouldn't be able to hide very well, but I can't find them. And I still have a few boxes of odds and ends to unpack, and all the garage stuff to organize, so I can't get too complacent here.
Here are a few tidbits about my week.
Magnetix are very cool toys, and my boys love them and play with them all the time, so all that is good. But they are a pain to clean up. The little metal balls (size of marbles), roll EVERYWHERE on my tile floor, underneath everything. Last Saturday night I spent probably an hour moving couches and chairs, swiping underneath heavy pieces of furniture with a broom to try and round up all the pieces. I'm tempted to put them up, because they are just so hard to clean up, and the boys can't really help the pieces from rolling around, but they play with them all the time, so I probably shouldn't...
Mosey is in love with his Shrek shirt he got from Grandma Jackee. He would wear it every day if I let him. We've had a few battles over this shirt already, when I've had to wash it, or simply don't want him wearing it day after day! He was pestering me all day about it yesterday, and as soon as the dryer cycle was done, he was in the laundry room fishing it out of the laundry basket. And he's wearing it again today. I'm too tired to fight him on it.
Brigham takes after his uncle Brigham in so many ways, one of them being his absent-mindedness. Christine, is Brigham still as absent minded as he was as a kid? I hope not! Brigham just can't do more than one thing at a time, since he gets so focused on that one thing he is doing. Getting dressed in the morning can be tough. He is also my most vociferous talker, so he gets involved talking about something while he's supposed to be getting dressed, and he'll take off his pajamas and then put them all back on again! Or put on his shorts forgetting about his undies. Or put his shoes on without his socks. Or simply forget about getting dressed altogether and just stand there talking and talking about something or other. So I'll (as gently as I can) remind him to get dressed, and then he gets really mad! "I AMMMM, mom!" This morning he was getting dressed and he was putting on his shorts before his undies, so I said to him, "Brigham, put your undies on first." Out of habit he started to say, "I AM putting my undies on, mom!" Then he looked down and said, "Oh. These aren't my undies." Made me laugh! Seriously, though, he needs to work on his multi-tasking skills! He also desperately wants another cat. I've been scouring Craigslist, but the right one just hasn't popped up yet. And Ben doesn't really want to get another one. But last night in his prayers he said, "And please bless us to get another cat," and afterwards Ben and I just looked at each other. So maybe he's changing his mind.
Joseph is doing well. He keeps Brigham's tall tales in check. Brigham loves to tell tall tales (last week one of them was how his teacher had a zoo with every animal in the "entire world" in her backyard; this morning it was one about how a kid in his class fell and hit is head and died), but Joseph can see right through them. He is my realist. Except when it comes to his "club house" in the back yard. He has big plans, and has been asking me more and more when I'm going to start building his club house. I hate to shatter his plans and dreams, but most of what he wants just isn't going to happen (electricity, furniture, a secret basement). But I really should spend some time with him and do a few things. His "club house" is really a small wooden structure out behind the pool. It has a swing attached, and a rope, and a couple of ladders leading up to a platform. Except most of the rungs of the ladders are broken, there's no slide, so it's really not all *that* fun. Maybe this weekend we'll repair the ladder rungs. Joseph has also learned to snap his fingers! I guess this has been a big thing among the 1st graders because every day the boys come home with different snapping techniques, and stories of who can snap their fingers, who can't, etc., etc. Joseph can do it pretty well! Brigham's still working on it.
Ben is still enjoying work, mostly. No talk of leaving and interviewing at different companies, which is a GOOD sign, and also a record for the longest he's kept a job before thinking about leaving. He's reading the Harry Potter books in Spanish. Ben is NOT a fiction reader, and I think the only fiction books he's read in the past 15 years have probably been in Spanish! He's on Book 2. The boys and I are still making our way through the audio books, we're on book 5 now.
I think I'm over my steroid withdrawal, which is good. It wasn't as bad this time as last time. The physical effects were still pretty yucky, but emotionally it was a lot better than last time. I had a followup appointment yesterday, and I did gain 2 pounds during the whole thing, but I guess it could have been worse. I've seen definite improvement, although I still hope to see more. I think it took probably 3 weeks to see the full effects last time, and it has only been 2 weeks, so I hope I gain back even more over the next few days. Everything is a lot better, although nothing is totally better. Which is fine, I probably can't expect things to completely go away. My strength is a lot better, although not where I'd like it to be. I can make it up the stairs, but it is still difficult, and I still can't go up and down more than a few times a day. Last weekend I was sweeping the floor in the downstairs. Before, I probably would have been able to do only one or two rooms before running out of steam. Now I can sweep the whole downstairs, but afterwards I really had just had it. I couldn't really even stand up anymore. It was a little discouraging, because I was hoping to really get all my strength and stamina back. But still, things are so much better than they were. I have some residual spasticity, but that has improved a lot. That's probably where I've seen the most improvement, and it was also what was making walking so very difficult. I think I'll probably always have a limp now, which is fine, but I can get around mostly without my cane now, which is doing wonders for my self-esteem. LOL. My doctor said he thought he'd have to put me on anti-spasticity meds, but after seeing my improvement, he's going to hold off on that, which made me *very* happy. My right hand is still numb, but the spasticity is totally gone in my fingers, so I can type normally again. So that's the news on the medical front. I have another appointment in 6 weeks.
We will hopefully be starting on our new roof this week. The city has the permit ready and is just waiting for approval from our HOA (I have been calling them about this for 2 weeks, but yesterday I really pestered some people, so hopefully they'll get the approval faxed over today). I'm keeping my fingers crossed for good weather over the next few weeks, so they can get it done fast before any hurricanes come.
Well, this ended up being pretty long for a week with no updates! I'll leave you with a couple of pictures I found on my old computer's hard drive (I've been transferring files onto my new computer). It's amazing to me how much my boys have grown. I spent probably half an hour last night with the boys looking through old pictures.
Joseph and Mosey, 1 week old. This was the morning after Joseph fell against the sliding glass door and cut his forehead open. He likes the scar, now, 'cuz it's in the same place as Harry Potter's scar.
Look at that little toddler-belly on Brigham!! He has NO belly on him now.
Just look at this chubby bub. I shouldn't look at these old pictures, they just make me wish I had another baby so bad!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Mosey's first day of preschool
Love that cheeky grin
He's proud to be such a "big boy!"
Showing off his new purple backpack (he picked it out himself)
Jumping for joy!! He was completely ready for school 40 minutes before we had to leave and he kept asking me, "How many more minutes until we go to preschool?"
Finally! Running down the pathway toward his classroom.
I tried to get one more picture of Mosey entering his classroom, but he was so excited, he literally ran in, and went straight over to the toys and wouldn't look back when I called his name. Either he was really excited for preschool, or really excited to finally have something more interesting to do than hang out with mom all day!
Hi Everyone,
I haven't updated in a week! I've been busy, not too much computer time, and I've been trying really hard to get to bed on time. That's my excuse.
So yesterday Mosey started preschool! He'll be going Monday and Friday mornings. He did great. No fuss going in, just went right in and started playing. There was a little drama getting to the point where he could go, though. Last Wednesday night was the orientation, and I found out I did not receive the medical information packet over the summer (due to moving houses I'm sure). The preschool had to have it by Friday or else Mosey wouldn't be allowed to go on Monday. So I had one day to find a doctor who would give him a physical and update his vaccinations. Thursday morning I called about 10 doctors, everyone was booked up for several weeks. I called all the urgent cares in the area, but none of them did well-child checkups or vaccinations. Finally one doctor's office I called said they had no openings, but they knew of a brand-new clinic in Pflugerville that probably had openings. They weren't on my insurance list, but when I called they had an opening that day, AND they accepted my insurance. Yay! By that point, I would have paid out of pocket if I had to. So then I had to get Mosey's vaccination records from his doctor in FL faxed over to the new office. But the FL doctor needed a signed medical release form. They didn't have any to fax to me, so I'd have to get it at the new doctor's office. But my appointment with Mosey (first one after lunch) was at 1:00, just when the FL office manager was leaving the office for 2 hours. So I went to the clinic 20 minutes early, hoping to find someone in who could give me the medical release form for me to sign, fax it back, and then have the FL office fax back his records before the office manager left the office. Well, everyone there was in a staff meeting. I tried to explain the situation, but the lady didn't understand I think, and said I'd have to wait until after the staff meeting. So I called the FL office and told the girl that I couldn't get the medical release form, was there any way she could fax the doctor's office Mosey's records anyway? They weren't even going to me, just the doctor's office. I could verify Mosey's SS number, everything. And I'd definitely have the medical release form faxed back within 15 minutes. But no, she HAD to have the medical release form first. Ugh. She said she'd wait 10 more minutes before leaving the office. Anyway, finally the staff meeting got done, I got a medical release form, and the office manager faxed it back to FL. But it had been about 20 minutes, not 10, and the girl had already left the office. Well, Mosey got his checkup, and he is healthy. He has a small heart murmur, like me and Brigham, but nothing to think twice about. He is 95% in height, and 75% in weight!!! Wow, big guy. 36 lbs, 39.5 inches. The doctor said the only immunization he may not have had was Hepatitis A. Some states don't require it, but Texas does. She didn't know about FL. Still, his records hadn't been faxed over. She said when they did, she'd call me if he hadn't had the hepatitis shot, and I could come in the next morning to get it done so I could have his medical records complete for preschool. What a pain, the place is half an hour away, plus there was a "meet the teacher" for all the little kids in the morning, and we'd have to miss that if I had to take him back over to Pflugerville. Well, JUST as we were leaving, the fax finally came through!! Sure enough, he hadn't had the hepatitis vaccination, so he got one shot (he was very brave, didn't cry), we got our forms signed, and we were done!! Whew!
The boys are doing well at school. They are adjusting to their earlier bedtime, slowly. Brigham needs to be in the same room as Joseph. He thinks he wants to be in the room with Mosey, but the two of them just mess around and tease each other, and never get to sleep. And Brigham can't fall asleep if he's alone in the room. So anyway, we're trying to get Brigham and Joseph to go to sleep in Joseph's room, and Mosey goes to sleep in his room. It is so hard for those little boys to settle down!! They just won't lay still. Finally two nights ago, when I was SOOOOO frustrated with Joseph, who wouldn't stop wiggling around, laying with his head and feet hanging over the sides of the bed, etc., etc., I asked him if he wanted me to hypnotize him to sleep. He thought that was cool, so I had him lay very still, and I did a relaxation/visualization thing with him, describing a peaceful mountain scene, and having him relax his muscles one at a time from his toes to his head. And you know what? It actually worked! He didn't fall asleep, but when I left the room, he was relaxed and within a few minutes he was asleep. So last night I did the same thing with Joseph and Brigham (beach scene this time), and it worked again! Brigham still tried to get up and move into Mosey's room, but I told him he had to go back in bed, and he did, and they all fell asleep before 9:00, which is amazing around here recently. Hopefully the novelty won't wear off and that will continue to work.
I've slowly been getting things set up around here. The last few days I've been working on hanging mirrors and pictures. That's the kind of thing that normally takes me months and months to get around to, but I'm tired of just getting my house decorated the way I like, and then having to move. So this time I'm doing the decorating first. Well, not painting or anything yet, but at least getting all the home decor items put in their place. Hanging mirrors and stuff is hard. I'm such a perfectionist, everything HAS to be level and symmetrical and all that. So it takes me a while with my measuring tape and my laser level, getting the drywall anchors put in, and adjusting everything just so. But it's coming along. I have all the pictures and mirrors up. I have several floating shelves that I have to install on brackets, and I haven't tackled those yet. And I really need to update the photographs. But at least it is something. Today I really must do housework, though. Not as much fun as decorating, but a necessary evil.
Daddy, we all know you're as green as a frog.
Mama, why don't you have any desire to see the Harry Potter movie? I thought it was the best one yet, and WELL worth seeing on the big screen.
Rosalynde, I hope Elena is adjusting. I've been praying for her and you.
Naomi, how's the job search? Anything else popping up, or are you just hanging out waiting for the NexisLexis job?
Christine, I think your motto, "live to serve, not to impress," is very good. I need to try to apply that more.
Rachel, what do you like so much about your literary theory class?
Benjamin, (Elder Frandsen), are you seeing signs of Fall in Germany?
Abe, are you getting the hang of college life? Getting up on time?
Christian, I haven't heard anything but tidbits about some trouble with the choral department? Tell me about it.
Eva, I got your birthday letter, thank you so much, it is so sweet. And I concede to your final point regarding "It's weird and I hate it."
Have a great day everyone.
I haven't updated in a week! I've been busy, not too much computer time, and I've been trying really hard to get to bed on time. That's my excuse.
So yesterday Mosey started preschool! He'll be going Monday and Friday mornings. He did great. No fuss going in, just went right in and started playing. There was a little drama getting to the point where he could go, though. Last Wednesday night was the orientation, and I found out I did not receive the medical information packet over the summer (due to moving houses I'm sure). The preschool had to have it by Friday or else Mosey wouldn't be allowed to go on Monday. So I had one day to find a doctor who would give him a physical and update his vaccinations. Thursday morning I called about 10 doctors, everyone was booked up for several weeks. I called all the urgent cares in the area, but none of them did well-child checkups or vaccinations. Finally one doctor's office I called said they had no openings, but they knew of a brand-new clinic in Pflugerville that probably had openings. They weren't on my insurance list, but when I called they had an opening that day, AND they accepted my insurance. Yay! By that point, I would have paid out of pocket if I had to. So then I had to get Mosey's vaccination records from his doctor in FL faxed over to the new office. But the FL doctor needed a signed medical release form. They didn't have any to fax to me, so I'd have to get it at the new doctor's office. But my appointment with Mosey (first one after lunch) was at 1:00, just when the FL office manager was leaving the office for 2 hours. So I went to the clinic 20 minutes early, hoping to find someone in who could give me the medical release form for me to sign, fax it back, and then have the FL office fax back his records before the office manager left the office. Well, everyone there was in a staff meeting. I tried to explain the situation, but the lady didn't understand I think, and said I'd have to wait until after the staff meeting. So I called the FL office and told the girl that I couldn't get the medical release form, was there any way she could fax the doctor's office Mosey's records anyway? They weren't even going to me, just the doctor's office. I could verify Mosey's SS number, everything. And I'd definitely have the medical release form faxed back within 15 minutes. But no, she HAD to have the medical release form first. Ugh. She said she'd wait 10 more minutes before leaving the office. Anyway, finally the staff meeting got done, I got a medical release form, and the office manager faxed it back to FL. But it had been about 20 minutes, not 10, and the girl had already left the office. Well, Mosey got his checkup, and he is healthy. He has a small heart murmur, like me and Brigham, but nothing to think twice about. He is 95% in height, and 75% in weight!!! Wow, big guy. 36 lbs, 39.5 inches. The doctor said the only immunization he may not have had was Hepatitis A. Some states don't require it, but Texas does. She didn't know about FL. Still, his records hadn't been faxed over. She said when they did, she'd call me if he hadn't had the hepatitis shot, and I could come in the next morning to get it done so I could have his medical records complete for preschool. What a pain, the place is half an hour away, plus there was a "meet the teacher" for all the little kids in the morning, and we'd have to miss that if I had to take him back over to Pflugerville. Well, JUST as we were leaving, the fax finally came through!! Sure enough, he hadn't had the hepatitis vaccination, so he got one shot (he was very brave, didn't cry), we got our forms signed, and we were done!! Whew!
The boys are doing well at school. They are adjusting to their earlier bedtime, slowly. Brigham needs to be in the same room as Joseph. He thinks he wants to be in the room with Mosey, but the two of them just mess around and tease each other, and never get to sleep. And Brigham can't fall asleep if he's alone in the room. So anyway, we're trying to get Brigham and Joseph to go to sleep in Joseph's room, and Mosey goes to sleep in his room. It is so hard for those little boys to settle down!! They just won't lay still. Finally two nights ago, when I was SOOOOO frustrated with Joseph, who wouldn't stop wiggling around, laying with his head and feet hanging over the sides of the bed, etc., etc., I asked him if he wanted me to hypnotize him to sleep. He thought that was cool, so I had him lay very still, and I did a relaxation/visualization thing with him, describing a peaceful mountain scene, and having him relax his muscles one at a time from his toes to his head. And you know what? It actually worked! He didn't fall asleep, but when I left the room, he was relaxed and within a few minutes he was asleep. So last night I did the same thing with Joseph and Brigham (beach scene this time), and it worked again! Brigham still tried to get up and move into Mosey's room, but I told him he had to go back in bed, and he did, and they all fell asleep before 9:00, which is amazing around here recently. Hopefully the novelty won't wear off and that will continue to work.
I've slowly been getting things set up around here. The last few days I've been working on hanging mirrors and pictures. That's the kind of thing that normally takes me months and months to get around to, but I'm tired of just getting my house decorated the way I like, and then having to move. So this time I'm doing the decorating first. Well, not painting or anything yet, but at least getting all the home decor items put in their place. Hanging mirrors and stuff is hard. I'm such a perfectionist, everything HAS to be level and symmetrical and all that. So it takes me a while with my measuring tape and my laser level, getting the drywall anchors put in, and adjusting everything just so. But it's coming along. I have all the pictures and mirrors up. I have several floating shelves that I have to install on brackets, and I haven't tackled those yet. And I really need to update the photographs. But at least it is something. Today I really must do housework, though. Not as much fun as decorating, but a necessary evil.
Daddy, we all know you're as green as a frog.
Mama, why don't you have any desire to see the Harry Potter movie? I thought it was the best one yet, and WELL worth seeing on the big screen.
Rosalynde, I hope Elena is adjusting. I've been praying for her and you.
Naomi, how's the job search? Anything else popping up, or are you just hanging out waiting for the NexisLexis job?
Christine, I think your motto, "live to serve, not to impress," is very good. I need to try to apply that more.
Rachel, what do you like so much about your literary theory class?
Benjamin, (Elder Frandsen), are you seeing signs of Fall in Germany?
Abe, are you getting the hang of college life? Getting up on time?
Christian, I haven't heard anything but tidbits about some trouble with the choral department? Tell me about it.
Eva, I got your birthday letter, thank you so much, it is so sweet. And I concede to your final point regarding "It's weird and I hate it."
Have a great day everyone.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
No more IV's!
No more IV's in my arm, yay.
My original line got clotted off today on my last day!! Ugh. I tried to flush it out with the saline solution they gave me, but it wouldn't go through and just ended up making a lovely swollen bulge under my skin. So I had to call the nurse to come out and start ANOTHER IV just for my last dose. But she was very good and it barely hurt, so no harm done. The boys were home from school by then and thought it was very interesting to watch, as they always do for my various "procedures." After that last dose I removed the IV myself, which was totally no big deal, but for some reason made me really squeamish. I have a very high pain tolerance, but I just HATE watching needles go into or out of my veins. Shots are not a problem but the in-the-vein thing just really creeps me out. I don't even like to think too hard about the IV catheter sitting there in my vein day after day. But I was a big girl, got all the tape off myself, and then pulled the thing out. Didn't really hurt, just feels very odd. And I'm all disconnected, and aside from a few bruises on my arm, good as new!
Now for the lovely week of withdrawal. I'm hoping all the horribilizing I'm doing in my mind will make the actual experience not as big a deal as I worried. In any case, I've got a lot of junk food to get me through. Comfort food does have a place in life, right? We have oatmeal raisin cookies I made for my YW presidency meeting this morning, brownies my visiting teacher brought over, some leftover home-made ice cream, leftover regular store-bought ice cream, two apple-turnovers, and various lunch-box cookies in the pantry. Yeah, I should be fine. AND, in a couple of weeks when I'm stronger I can start walking and burning off the couple of pounds I will inevitably have put on over these two weeks.
Tonight was the 1st grade orientationat the school. Always a challenge when I have 2 first graders and only one of me. We went to most of Joseph's and then slipped on over to Brigham's for the last couple of minutes. Seems like they should have a good first grade year. I really need to get my boys onto a regular homework-time-with-mom schedule every day. They have homework starting in October, but I want to start some one-on-one math and reading time with me before then. Probably just 15-20 minutes a day at first. The school is emphasizing reading, of course, being 1st grade, and my boys LOVE to be read to, but I know the teachers want me to sit down with them and read to them word-by-word, pointing out each word, etc., which is much more boring for me and for the boys. But I understand that is how they are going to start recognizing words much more easily and start getting excited to read for themselves.
There are a bunch of Chinese and Indian students in both the boys' classes (ok, I know I'm being totally un-PC here, but whatever), and I just know those parents are sitting down with their kids for like an hour each day with math and reading, then an hour at piano lessons, violin lessons, etc., etc. I don't want my boys to necessarily have that kind of totally-structured after-school time, but I also want them to feel like they are just as smart as the other kids, and that they are keeping up with them. Ah, the dillemmas of putting your kids in academically advanced schools!
You should have seen Mosey tonight when Ben got home from work. He was so excited to see him. Mosey must be just completely bored with me. Part of the problem (most of the problem?) is that I really can't do much of the rough-and-tumble horse play that 3 year old boys crave. So anyway, Ben gets home and is swinging Mosey all around, dropping him on the couch, chasing him around the kitchen/playroom/living room circuit we have, pretending to eat his sunshine bear, and just making Mosey burst out into gales of laughter. It did my heart good to hear him laugh like that, and also made me feel a bit miserable for not being able to make my little boy laugh like that myself. I hate feeling like I'm ripping my little guy off. Thank goodness for Daddies!! THIS is why Heavenly Father meant for families to have moms AND dads. There are some things moms (even fully functional moms which I am not) just can't do as well, as regularly, as naturally as dads.
OK, off to bed for me. Wednesday is tomorrow and the week will be half-over!
My original line got clotted off today on my last day!! Ugh. I tried to flush it out with the saline solution they gave me, but it wouldn't go through and just ended up making a lovely swollen bulge under my skin. So I had to call the nurse to come out and start ANOTHER IV just for my last dose. But she was very good and it barely hurt, so no harm done. The boys were home from school by then and thought it was very interesting to watch, as they always do for my various "procedures." After that last dose I removed the IV myself, which was totally no big deal, but for some reason made me really squeamish. I have a very high pain tolerance, but I just HATE watching needles go into or out of my veins. Shots are not a problem but the in-the-vein thing just really creeps me out. I don't even like to think too hard about the IV catheter sitting there in my vein day after day. But I was a big girl, got all the tape off myself, and then pulled the thing out. Didn't really hurt, just feels very odd. And I'm all disconnected, and aside from a few bruises on my arm, good as new!
Now for the lovely week of withdrawal. I'm hoping all the horribilizing I'm doing in my mind will make the actual experience not as big a deal as I worried. In any case, I've got a lot of junk food to get me through. Comfort food does have a place in life, right? We have oatmeal raisin cookies I made for my YW presidency meeting this morning, brownies my visiting teacher brought over, some leftover home-made ice cream, leftover regular store-bought ice cream, two apple-turnovers, and various lunch-box cookies in the pantry. Yeah, I should be fine. AND, in a couple of weeks when I'm stronger I can start walking and burning off the couple of pounds I will inevitably have put on over these two weeks.
Tonight was the 1st grade orientationat the school. Always a challenge when I have 2 first graders and only one of me. We went to most of Joseph's and then slipped on over to Brigham's for the last couple of minutes. Seems like they should have a good first grade year. I really need to get my boys onto a regular homework-time-with-mom schedule every day. They have homework starting in October, but I want to start some one-on-one math and reading time with me before then. Probably just 15-20 minutes a day at first. The school is emphasizing reading, of course, being 1st grade, and my boys LOVE to be read to, but I know the teachers want me to sit down with them and read to them word-by-word, pointing out each word, etc., which is much more boring for me and for the boys. But I understand that is how they are going to start recognizing words much more easily and start getting excited to read for themselves.
There are a bunch of Chinese and Indian students in both the boys' classes (ok, I know I'm being totally un-PC here, but whatever), and I just know those parents are sitting down with their kids for like an hour each day with math and reading, then an hour at piano lessons, violin lessons, etc., etc. I don't want my boys to necessarily have that kind of totally-structured after-school time, but I also want them to feel like they are just as smart as the other kids, and that they are keeping up with them. Ah, the dillemmas of putting your kids in academically advanced schools!
You should have seen Mosey tonight when Ben got home from work. He was so excited to see him. Mosey must be just completely bored with me. Part of the problem (most of the problem?) is that I really can't do much of the rough-and-tumble horse play that 3 year old boys crave. So anyway, Ben gets home and is swinging Mosey all around, dropping him on the couch, chasing him around the kitchen/playroom/living room circuit we have, pretending to eat his sunshine bear, and just making Mosey burst out into gales of laughter. It did my heart good to hear him laugh like that, and also made me feel a bit miserable for not being able to make my little boy laugh like that myself. I hate feeling like I'm ripping my little guy off. Thank goodness for Daddies!! THIS is why Heavenly Father meant for families to have moms AND dads. There are some things moms (even fully functional moms which I am not) just can't do as well, as regularly, as naturally as dads.
OK, off to bed for me. Wednesday is tomorrow and the week will be half-over!
Monday, September 03, 2007
Labor Day
Here are 3 pictures from the Spanish Fork Reservoir (which I never knew existed until a month ago!) We went up there with Grandma Jackee and Liz's kids Jack and Luke (Luke's the baby, not pictured in the escapades of the bigger boys).
Note how three of the 4 have on matching swimsuits. Gotta love the Target clearance rack!
Here are 3 of the many boy cousins my kids have. Jack Whitney, Isaac and Max Turner, and Joseph!
And here is Mosey for good measure, a popsicle in one hand, and his trusty (original) Sunshine Bear in the other.
Note how three of the 4 have on matching swimsuits. Gotta love the Target clearance rack!
And here are a few more pictures from our vacation:
This is how Brigham spent most of his time at Grandma Frandsen's house, building elaborate railroad track structures, and then asking me to take pictures of them!
Here are 3 of the many boy cousins my kids have. Jack Whitney, Isaac and Max Turner, and Joseph!
And here is Mosey for good measure, a popsicle in one hand, and his trusty (original) Sunshine Bear in the other.
Hi Everyone,
Here is our update for the past few days.
Friday night by the time Ben got home from work, I was too tired to do anything too extravagant for my birthday. So instead we ordered pizza and stayed home and watched a movie, which was just perfect.
Saturday in the morning we listened to Harry Potter (book 3 now) and I cleaned out and organized my craft desk. In the afternoon we did a little better birthday celebration and went to eat at Texas Land and Cattle (yeah, I know, really weird name, but a good steak restaurant!), and then went and got an ice cream maker, something I've been wanting for a while. It's a nice one that doesn't require any ice or salt. We already broke it in by making a batch of reeces peanut butter caramel cup vanilla ice cream. Yum! Anyway, then we dropped Ben off at home to watch the BYU game and do some work, and the boys and I went to Frye's where we got a telescope, originally $390, marked down to $149, because it was a floor model and missing this controller piece which I will hopefully be able to order from the company. If not I'll take it back I guess. Then to the dollar store for the boys to spend some of the clean-up money they've been earning, then to Blockbuster, then to the grocery store. I was BEAT by the time I got back home.
Sunday was church and a pretty relaxing afternoon. I took a long nap while Ben entertained the boys.
Today we spent several hours "laboring," straightening and cleaning up the house, sweeping and mopping a little, I weeded around the front flowerbeds, did 4 loads of laundry, and then we all went up to the lake for a while, and then to a park where the boys went on a hike with Ben and saw a huge rattlesnake!! I was too worn out to do much so I stayed in the car at the lake, and then sat on a bench at the park.
I am noticing some improvement with the steroid treatment, already my legs are getting markedly less spastic which is nice. But I still get weak fast and just really tired. But I remember last time that it took 2-3 weeks for the full effects to kick in.
I do not like steroids, still. The pharmacist I talked to said that many people experience a "euphoric" effect, but that a certain percentage of patients will get depressed, which definitely happens to me. I'm afraid I've been pretty grumpy with everyone around me. And it probably isn't going to get better for at least a week, so I have got to get some control! But it is worth it because I am so looking forward to being able to resume some semblance of "normalcy" in my life.
My doctor gave me Xanax, but I am very reluctant to take it because I know it will just make me even more fuzzy and zoned out than the steroids already make me. It will be over soon, though! I'll be happy to get this darned IV out of my arm tomorrow. It really cramps my style! One benefit of being out of commission is that I have noticed my big boys being more willing to clean up and do favors for me. I guess maybe because they know I'm not kidding when I tell them I *need* their help!
Mosey... not so much. He's the one I'm really most anxious to get better for. He needs more mommy-attention than he has been getting. Just keeping up with the bare minimum has been sapping pretty much all I've got, and he deserves much more. I think he must be going through a growth spurt because I hear about 25 times a day, "Mom, I'm hung-gwee!" He is eating me out of house and home! Ha ha, not really, but I think he is growing. He's not to be seen without a bag of goldfish crackers or a half-eaten apple. He decided he needed new shoes last week, and sort of "helped" his old shoes along by cutting off the velcro straps. Aargh! Time to dig through the garage to find the "boys' shoes" box. We had a little talk about only cutting *paper.*
Well, Ben is my hero tonight and is upstairs getting the boys to sleep. Or it could be more likely that he's just afraid of my steroid-induced bad mood and wants to get as far away from me as possible... It is only 6:45 PM but I've just about had it, I don't think I have any more energy to do anything else useful tonight!
Hope all of you starting school tomorrow have a great day and a great start to the new school year!
Here is our update for the past few days.
Friday night by the time Ben got home from work, I was too tired to do anything too extravagant for my birthday. So instead we ordered pizza and stayed home and watched a movie, which was just perfect.
Saturday in the morning we listened to Harry Potter (book 3 now) and I cleaned out and organized my craft desk. In the afternoon we did a little better birthday celebration and went to eat at Texas Land and Cattle (yeah, I know, really weird name, but a good steak restaurant!), and then went and got an ice cream maker, something I've been wanting for a while. It's a nice one that doesn't require any ice or salt. We already broke it in by making a batch of reeces peanut butter caramel cup vanilla ice cream. Yum! Anyway, then we dropped Ben off at home to watch the BYU game and do some work, and the boys and I went to Frye's where we got a telescope, originally $390, marked down to $149, because it was a floor model and missing this controller piece which I will hopefully be able to order from the company. If not I'll take it back I guess. Then to the dollar store for the boys to spend some of the clean-up money they've been earning, then to Blockbuster, then to the grocery store. I was BEAT by the time I got back home.
Sunday was church and a pretty relaxing afternoon. I took a long nap while Ben entertained the boys.
Today we spent several hours "laboring," straightening and cleaning up the house, sweeping and mopping a little, I weeded around the front flowerbeds, did 4 loads of laundry, and then we all went up to the lake for a while, and then to a park where the boys went on a hike with Ben and saw a huge rattlesnake!! I was too worn out to do much so I stayed in the car at the lake, and then sat on a bench at the park.
I am noticing some improvement with the steroid treatment, already my legs are getting markedly less spastic which is nice. But I still get weak fast and just really tired. But I remember last time that it took 2-3 weeks for the full effects to kick in.
I do not like steroids, still. The pharmacist I talked to said that many people experience a "euphoric" effect, but that a certain percentage of patients will get depressed, which definitely happens to me. I'm afraid I've been pretty grumpy with everyone around me. And it probably isn't going to get better for at least a week, so I have got to get some control! But it is worth it because I am so looking forward to being able to resume some semblance of "normalcy" in my life.
My doctor gave me Xanax, but I am very reluctant to take it because I know it will just make me even more fuzzy and zoned out than the steroids already make me. It will be over soon, though! I'll be happy to get this darned IV out of my arm tomorrow. It really cramps my style! One benefit of being out of commission is that I have noticed my big boys being more willing to clean up and do favors for me. I guess maybe because they know I'm not kidding when I tell them I *need* their help!
Mosey... not so much. He's the one I'm really most anxious to get better for. He needs more mommy-attention than he has been getting. Just keeping up with the bare minimum has been sapping pretty much all I've got, and he deserves much more. I think he must be going through a growth spurt because I hear about 25 times a day, "Mom, I'm hung-gwee!" He is eating me out of house and home! Ha ha, not really, but I think he is growing. He's not to be seen without a bag of goldfish crackers or a half-eaten apple. He decided he needed new shoes last week, and sort of "helped" his old shoes along by cutting off the velcro straps. Aargh! Time to dig through the garage to find the "boys' shoes" box. We had a little talk about only cutting *paper.*
Well, Ben is my hero tonight and is upstairs getting the boys to sleep. Or it could be more likely that he's just afraid of my steroid-induced bad mood and wants to get as far away from me as possible... It is only 6:45 PM but I've just about had it, I don't think I have any more energy to do anything else useful tonight!
Hope all of you starting school tomorrow have a great day and a great start to the new school year!
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