Oh yes, we are still here and yes, I have thought that I should write a post on a daily basis since December...but as you know sometimes life has other plans!
Every time I contemplate writing a post, there is homework that I should be doing (like at this particular moment) or dishes that should be washed or children who should be played with or any other various numerous household chores that should be done....lots of excuses, but also valid ones too :)
As far as all of us here, well, we are all doing the best that we can at any given moment.
Scott has been eating better, exercising more, and becoming more healthy since the beginning of the year. He is also doing his best to keep up with his work, despite, these children continuously wanting us to take sick days to stay home with them (at least he has the option of working from home, which has been a wonderful blessing!)
Luke is 1/2 way through his first official year of school. He is still full of sweetness and spunk. He is also still adjusting and has his challenges each and every day, but we are also blessed to have a wonderful school and group of teachers to work with and who are all looking out for his needs/best interests! I would be lying if I didn't say that it does make me envious at times to listen to other parents' "worries" about their kids and their behavior at school (when I am fully aware that they really have no reason to worry/they have no idea that their kids "issues" are NOT really issues :) especially around parent teacher conference times. If they had to trade places, they would probably be rocked to their core! But he is our little man and I wouldn't trade him for anyone else and I just say a prayer of thanks for those parents that their worries are only "trivial" (in my book anyway)! Sorry for my side bar :) I have faith that with time, maturity, and consistency, our little man will figure it all out and go on to do great things!
Big Sis is talking all of the time! She has made so much wonderful progress in the time that she has been with us that my heart could not be any more full! She has a sweet smile, strong will, and a definite flair for the dramatic, but we wouldn't have her any other way (well maybe during some of her tantrums! just kidding ;) I am also ready to declare her potty trained! Hip, hip, hooray! I actually can't believe how relatively easy it was in comparison to our years long experience with the first one, but I'll take it. She does still have some accidents, but the girl is also independent and likes doing things herself so that has helped a ton!
Little Sis is ornery! She has a look and a smile that says it all :) She is also very busy-you can find her in any room at any moment doing her thing! She loves playing with Big Sis and/or Luke at any given time. She can play nice and sweet with sister or rough house it up with big brother, Luke. With her it makes no difference! She is definitely the easy going one of the bunch! :) Her speech is starting to emerge with a few words (we understand) and she has a wonderful understanding of the things we say to her! She is a spunky little one who makes us all smile!
As for me, I've been okay. My back had been bothering me, as of the last time I wrote, so I hadn't been running. December also brought with it several bouts of illness for me. A week of slight diarrhea/nausea; a 2-3 day fever after Christmas. My sister and I started talking about which 1/2 marathon we wanted to do this spring and had sort of decided upon one, but I was still not feeling the best. My back was better, but after the fever, I was left with tons of snot. This turned into a sore throat/swollen lymph node in my neck, some nausea and a fatigue that I just couldn't shake. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever be able to start training again! I finally called the doctor after the sore throat had been around for several days along with the lymph node issue. I was fairly certain that I would not be able to do the 1/2 marathon because I had self-diagnosed myself with Mono. As the doctor started asking routine questions...
Are you pregnant? "no"
What was the date of your last menstrual cycle? (counting)...8 weeks?
Is it normal for you to go that long in between? "Well, it used to be because I never had any idea when it would come, but this is the longest it's been in the last 2 years..."
Could you be pregnant? "I highly doubt it, but I guess maybe..."
I was diagnosed with sinusitis and prescribed antibiotics. I picked up a pregnancy test along with my prescription and when I got home, I saw something that I had never seen before...
a positive pregnancy test!
I went into shock for a bit and then shared it with Scott (I hadn't said anything to him because I didn't want to give him any false hope.) He also went into shock! :)
So, as of tomorrow, I will be 14 weeks pregnant and officially in my second trimester and still not completely sure that this is actually happening, but so so happy! I will also NOT be partaking in the 1/2 marathon, but instead doing the 4 mile walk with my sister, Beth, while Em runs the 1/2 :)
After 9 1/2 years, it is definitely hard to believe that this particular dream is actually happening, but while it does we are cherishing the full house we have already been blessed with over the past 8 months too! And we'll continue looking forward to a special arrival coming August 2013!
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Monday, December 31, 2012
2012 Books Continued...
3. High Five! by Ken Blanchard, Sheldon Bowles, Don Carew, and Eunice Parisi-Carew
-This is one off the bookshelf at school. We have a major leadership/team building theme at my school and this is one that I've heard some of the teachers talk about so I picked it up. Quick read.
4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
-I enjoyed this story and now am willing to see the movie! :)
5. Taking Charge of ADHD by Russell A. Barkley, PhD
-very informational and good resource
6. Raising Boys with ADHD by James W. Forgan, PhD & Mary Anne Richey
-some of the same info, but easier read...would definitely recommend this as a quick resource to anyone wanting to learn more about this disorder
7. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
-powerful book! I have heard a lot about this author, but hadn't read anything of hers yet. This was a random pick from the library...I just happen to turn around and saw her books on the shelf and decided it must be time to try her out :) For a random choice, I chose well because the storyline of this book fit right in with one of the time periods that I always like to read about. Partially set in WWII, but instead of Holocaust Germany...this was set in Stalin's Russia so I got a different perspective than I have read before. Would definitely recommend this book to others!
8. The Things We Do For Love by Kristin Hannah
-2nd pick of hers dealt with infertility/adoption...wow, I sure can pick 'em...
This book was good and the author definitely captured what it's like to be the "infertile" surrounded by people with children/people who are "family, family, family" when one has a very difficult time dealing with conflicting feelings of happiness and deep sadness that happen at the same time as a result of those same people AND how those same people try to understand, but never really can. I liked the ending, but in some respects I felt like it was just a bit 'far fetched' in real life I'm not so sure that such a neat and tidy ending is really how the scenario would have turned out. That would be the only thing I could say about this author and the books I've read thus far is that "neat and tidy" endings are wonderful to read, but sometimes they can be misleading from how real-life goes...I guess that's why it's called fiction ;)
9. Picture This How Pictures Work by Molly Bang
-read this book as part of one of my summer classes...it made me think about art and how artworks are put together in a way I had never thought about before...hopefully this info will help in my class too :)
10. Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn by Donald Spoto
11. Ways of Seeing by John Berger
-read this as part of my research for my research project about teaching visual/art elements to enhance reading comprehension with kids...I found it to be an interesting read and learned about how to look at artwork along the way too...and this is coming from a [maybe former] non art loving person! :)
12. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
13. Golden Legacy by Leonard S. Marcus
14. Dear Genius The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom by Leonard S. Marcus
-read this and the previous book after my summer class and learning about how picture books are made...these were both about the publishing industry
15. United States Catholic Catechism for Adults by U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
-read this as part of our diocese's adult education effort this past year.
16. The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson
17. Honus and Me by Dan Gutman
18. Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin A. Ramsey
19. The Name of this Book is Secret by Psuedonymous Bosch
The last four books were read as part of an award list for elementary students at school so if you're interested in children's lit (3rd-5th)...check them out.
-This is one off the bookshelf at school. We have a major leadership/team building theme at my school and this is one that I've heard some of the teachers talk about so I picked it up. Quick read.
4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
-I enjoyed this story and now am willing to see the movie! :)
5. Taking Charge of ADHD by Russell A. Barkley, PhD
-very informational and good resource
6. Raising Boys with ADHD by James W. Forgan, PhD & Mary Anne Richey
-some of the same info, but easier read...would definitely recommend this as a quick resource to anyone wanting to learn more about this disorder
7. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
-powerful book! I have heard a lot about this author, but hadn't read anything of hers yet. This was a random pick from the library...I just happen to turn around and saw her books on the shelf and decided it must be time to try her out :) For a random choice, I chose well because the storyline of this book fit right in with one of the time periods that I always like to read about. Partially set in WWII, but instead of Holocaust Germany...this was set in Stalin's Russia so I got a different perspective than I have read before. Would definitely recommend this book to others!
8. The Things We Do For Love by Kristin Hannah
-2nd pick of hers dealt with infertility/adoption...wow, I sure can pick 'em...
This book was good and the author definitely captured what it's like to be the "infertile" surrounded by people with children/people who are "family, family, family" when one has a very difficult time dealing with conflicting feelings of happiness and deep sadness that happen at the same time as a result of those same people AND how those same people try to understand, but never really can. I liked the ending, but in some respects I felt like it was just a bit 'far fetched' in real life I'm not so sure that such a neat and tidy ending is really how the scenario would have turned out. That would be the only thing I could say about this author and the books I've read thus far is that "neat and tidy" endings are wonderful to read, but sometimes they can be misleading from how real-life goes...I guess that's why it's called fiction ;)
9. Picture This How Pictures Work by Molly Bang
-read this book as part of one of my summer classes...it made me think about art and how artworks are put together in a way I had never thought about before...hopefully this info will help in my class too :)
10. Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn by Donald Spoto
11. Ways of Seeing by John Berger
-read this as part of my research for my research project about teaching visual/art elements to enhance reading comprehension with kids...I found it to be an interesting read and learned about how to look at artwork along the way too...and this is coming from a [maybe former] non art loving person! :)
12. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
13. Golden Legacy by Leonard S. Marcus
14. Dear Genius The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom by Leonard S. Marcus
-read this and the previous book after my summer class and learning about how picture books are made...these were both about the publishing industry
15. United States Catholic Catechism for Adults by U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
-read this as part of our diocese's adult education effort this past year.
16. The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson
17. Honus and Me by Dan Gutman
18. Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin A. Ramsey
19. The Name of this Book is Secret by Psuedonymous Bosch
The last four books were read as part of an award list for elementary students at school so if you're interested in children's lit (3rd-5th)...check them out.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Welcome to the World!
It's a girl, another niece!
(Now don't tell me this news would shock you :)
Lydia Brooke
Congrats to my brother-in-law, Pete, and his wife, Jenny! And congrats to big brother Wyatt and big sisters Brielle and Carly!
We are so grateful for her safe and healthy arrival into this world and can't wait to get to know her as she grows!
We love you Lydia!
Grand Totals: Nephews-2 Nieces-8
(Yeah, it's slightly lopsided, but we don't care because as you all know...I have the cutest nieces and nephews ever! ;)
Monday, November 12, 2012
May The Fart Be With You!
If you are expecting a graceful, ladylike post, you will probably want to avert your eyes to another blog at this time.
If you are my mother, you are going to be immensely proud and will probably need a tissue for when your eyes start tearing up from all of those proud feelings you are going to be experiencing.
If you are still with me, enjoy! :)
Last week one morning (not sure if my alarm clock had actually gone off yet or not, but not really the point), Luke came into our bedroom and crawled into bed with me. Scott was already up and getting ready, so Luke and I enjoyed some snuggle time.
Well, I started to experience some gas and so I thought that I would just set it free, silently of course, but my body had other ideas. I let one loose and it was a LOOOONG, SLOOOW, LOOOUUUD one! Definitely not what I was expecting! I believe I said "Oh my!"
Luke looked at me and said (in a serious voice that sounded like he was about to cry),...
"Mommy, I'll never be able to fart like you!"
I (trying not to laugh at just how cute he was) responded, "Oh, you will honey! Someday you'll be big just like me and you'll be able to fart like that too! You just have to keep working at it!"
He felt better after that and I did too! ;)
P.S. Thanks to Luke's former preschool teacher for the title of this post...her sarcastic retort was perfect! :)
If you are my mother, you are going to be immensely proud and will probably need a tissue for when your eyes start tearing up from all of those proud feelings you are going to be experiencing.
If you are still with me, enjoy! :)
Last week one morning (not sure if my alarm clock had actually gone off yet or not, but not really the point), Luke came into our bedroom and crawled into bed with me. Scott was already up and getting ready, so Luke and I enjoyed some snuggle time.
Well, I started to experience some gas and so I thought that I would just set it free, silently of course, but my body had other ideas. I let one loose and it was a LOOOONG, SLOOOW, LOOOUUUD one! Definitely not what I was expecting! I believe I said "Oh my!"
Luke looked at me and said (in a serious voice that sounded like he was about to cry),...
"Mommy, I'll never be able to fart like you!"
I (trying not to laugh at just how cute he was) responded, "Oh, you will honey! Someday you'll be big just like me and you'll be able to fart like that too! You just have to keep working at it!"
He felt better after that and I did too! ;)
P.S. Thanks to Luke's former preschool teacher for the title of this post...her sarcastic retort was perfect! :)
October Spook!
(Yes, I realize it is actually November now...I'm a little behind!)
Two or three weekends before Halloween...I got bit by a cat...a black cat, nonetheless.
It was one of our several "barn" cats and I'm sure it was hungry (probably thought my foot was a chicken leg or something), and as I stepped out onto the porch barefoot to feed them, it bit me. I screamed...the cat unhooked and looked at me in shock...the children behind me started screaming...and I just kept thinking-did that cat actually just do that! It had.
Did you know that a cat bite bleeds? And it doesn't like to stop...
As I'm trying to fix up my foot, I hear choruses of "Mom, why did the cat bite you? Does it hurt?" from one child and "Oh no...katty kat...bite mama...ouch...boo boo (whimpering voice)" from another child...repeat all of these 20,000 more times for the actual experience!
Well, I got it cleaned up and briefly wondered if one should visit an E.R. (since it was the weekend, of course), but thought "Nah, it's just a cat!"
Scott had been away visiting his brother on this particular weekend and got home about an hour after all of this had occurred and as soon as he walked in the door, the children replayed the events described above for him. And the bite still hurt.
After all of the children were in bed and with my foot still hurting (pretty bad for being several hours later), I was still wondering whether I should have gone to the E.R. or not...if it had been a dog, I rationalized, I wouldn't have hesitated...so I googled "cat bite treatment".
Did you know that 80% of cat bites become infected with various strains of bacteria and can be considered worse than dog bites due to their "needle-like" teeth that can inject bacteria deep into the tissue?
I didn't either...and even after reading several horror stories, I still decided to see if it would be "better in the morning".
It wasn't. It wasn't way worse, but it definitely was not better.
I limped my way through Mass and around the in-law's after church. When we got home, I told Scott that I was going to the E.R. (even though I'm sure he thought I was being overly dramatic). The doctor scolded me for waiting so long and asked if I knew what the worst thing is that could happen from a cat bite. I jokingly asked if she was going to have to amputate my foot.
She did not think that was funny...
My infection was not the worst case scenario, but it was slowly spreading from my big toe area up the to the top of my arch so she gave me antibiotics and told me to see someone else within 24 hours.
So on Monday after school, I hauled myself in for another appointment after watching the top of my foot get just a little bit redder throughout the day. I learned that what I was taking was not even strong enough to kill "cat bite bacteria" so I got a brand new prescription and after much elevation, H20, and plenty of big white pills, I can now say that I am fully healed!
Moral of the story: A cat is not "just a cat" when it comes to bites...seek medical attention! :)
Two or three weekends before Halloween...I got bit by a cat...a black cat, nonetheless.
It was one of our several "barn" cats and I'm sure it was hungry (probably thought my foot was a chicken leg or something), and as I stepped out onto the porch barefoot to feed them, it bit me. I screamed...the cat unhooked and looked at me in shock...the children behind me started screaming...and I just kept thinking-did that cat actually just do that! It had.
Did you know that a cat bite bleeds? And it doesn't like to stop...
As I'm trying to fix up my foot, I hear choruses of "Mom, why did the cat bite you? Does it hurt?" from one child and "Oh no...katty kat...bite mama...ouch...boo boo (whimpering voice)" from another child...repeat all of these 20,000 more times for the actual experience!
Well, I got it cleaned up and briefly wondered if one should visit an E.R. (since it was the weekend, of course), but thought "Nah, it's just a cat!"
Scott had been away visiting his brother on this particular weekend and got home about an hour after all of this had occurred and as soon as he walked in the door, the children replayed the events described above for him. And the bite still hurt.
After all of the children were in bed and with my foot still hurting (pretty bad for being several hours later), I was still wondering whether I should have gone to the E.R. or not...if it had been a dog, I rationalized, I wouldn't have hesitated...so I googled "cat bite treatment".
Did you know that 80% of cat bites become infected with various strains of bacteria and can be considered worse than dog bites due to their "needle-like" teeth that can inject bacteria deep into the tissue?
I didn't either...and even after reading several horror stories, I still decided to see if it would be "better in the morning".
It wasn't. It wasn't way worse, but it definitely was not better.
I limped my way through Mass and around the in-law's after church. When we got home, I told Scott that I was going to the E.R. (even though I'm sure he thought I was being overly dramatic). The doctor scolded me for waiting so long and asked if I knew what the worst thing is that could happen from a cat bite. I jokingly asked if she was going to have to amputate my foot.
She did not think that was funny...
My infection was not the worst case scenario, but it was slowly spreading from my big toe area up the to the top of my arch so she gave me antibiotics and told me to see someone else within 24 hours.
So on Monday after school, I hauled myself in for another appointment after watching the top of my foot get just a little bit redder throughout the day. I learned that what I was taking was not even strong enough to kill "cat bite bacteria" so I got a brand new prescription and after much elevation, H20, and plenty of big white pills, I can now say that I am fully healed!
Moral of the story: A cat is not "just a cat" when it comes to bites...seek medical attention! :)
Sunday, October 7, 2012
What did he say?
Is the question I found myself asking about a song on the radio this weekend. The song was a song I have heard many, many times over the years. The song is also one, in which, I don't understand most of the words the lead singer (Tom Petty) is singing. I have always sang, "You don't have to run from me" every.single.time because that was what I thought it sounded like. Apparently, this weekend my ears were working and I heard, "You don't have to live like a refugee" and I said to Scott "What did he just say?"
He did not seemed surprised by the lyrics and he did not seem surprised by my complete misinterpretation of these lyrics all of these years either. :)
Here is a video of the song with the lyrics...just in case maybe I am not the only confused person ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-TBpKGACmw&feature=player_detailpage
He did not seemed surprised by the lyrics and he did not seem surprised by my complete misinterpretation of these lyrics all of these years either. :)
Here is a video of the song with the lyrics...just in case maybe I am not the only confused person ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-TBpKGACmw&feature=player_detailpage
Saturday, September 29, 2012
August and September (an update)...plus a tale of two months
Well, today marks 3 months as a family of 5. Laugh at me or not, but it really took me almost the whole first month to realize that this family of five included three kids aged 4 and under. It was chaotic, but not like what I expected after hearing people around me (whose kids are close in age and whom like to throw those type of statistics around :) talk about the craziness that ensues. I don't know...maybe it's called lower expectations, or a more easy going nature, or maybe just not expecting so much out of myself or the kids themselves except for them to be themselves, learn how to share space/toys with each other, and allowing them each to adjust at their own pace.
In the last month, Luke has made great strides and shows great pride in his "big brother" role, plus he turned 5! He really enjoys telling people about how he is a big brother now and him and I have had many conversations about why the girls are living with us now; the possibility that the girls could eventually go back home; how he would help and why we can't help their mom and dad; and how he never wants the girls to leave now. If you were around the first two months, you know that during that time there were many conversations that went "I love my little sisters" one minute to "I don't like having little sisters! Send them back!" the next so he has made tremendous progress! :) He also started kindergarten in August and as with everything...it has taken time for him to transition, but we just came off of our first WHOLE good week so we're hoping that he is finally settling back in to routine again...what more could a mom ask for! :)
Big sis (age 2 1/2) has made so many subtle, but great strides since coming to live with us that my heart just swells with pride for her! When she arrived, she maybe had 10-20 words and everything resulted in a scream/tantrum with the word "MINE!" yelled at the top of lungs! Every.single.thing went in her mouth (no matter how gross!) and she was constantly spitting at Luke. Let's just say I was so caught up in their arrival, the changes taking place, controlling interactions between all of the kids and trying to make sure I was doing everything (paperwork/appointments) that I was supposed to do, that I was not completely aware of just how tremendously behind she was with regards to her behaviors. After the first meeting with a screener (about 1 1/2 weeks in), it became quite obvious to me...and then after several more meetings with other screeners, it was even more obvious, but by that point she had already begun to make loads of progress. Oh, she is still behind in many areas, but the girl can share when she wants to now; she can and does use the word please now (and sometimes even without prompting); there is still occasional spitting, but nowhere near like it was; she no longer screams at every drop of a hat; she has learned to give hugs to say she's sorry; she has added several more words to her vocabulary; she can do our block puzzles without becoming instantaneously frustrated AND I watched her do one all by herself this week!; she LOVES books; she has one of the prettiest smiles and she loves to cuddle/give hugs...what more could a mom ask for! :)
Little sis (age 1...she celebrated a birthday the day after Luke's!) started out so sweet (and she still is, of course), but is starting to show her spunky side too! She has gone from a 10 month old girl who was a good crawler, but much preferred to be held any chance she got (and would just cry until someone picked her up). Normally, I would not have given in every time, but due to the trauma they were initially experiencing caused by all of the changes they experienced in the course of a few days...I knew it was better to just pick her up, comfort her, and make her feel safe/secure than to assume I was caving in to a tantrum at that point in time. Once she knew, we weren't leaving her and she wasn't leaving us anytime soon...she became great friends with the floor! :) I witnessed her shocked/scared reaction to pulling herself up in her crib for the first time and the girl has never looked back! She has learned to crawl up the stairs, is not afraid of trying to get to any place she wants to get to, she can climb into sister's bed, and she just took her first couple steps without holding on yesterday! Of course, I placed her on her feet just a few feet away from me and started clapping for her to come to me...so it might have been somewhat "staged" but she did do it and she did it again several times! I could tell by the look on her face that she thought it was fun, but she is also just not quite brave enough to do it by herself yet! She is a sweetie, lots of fun, and can always make the rest of smile...what more could a mom ask for! :)
AUGUST:
Hot, Dry, and Bugs!
The drought continued on around here and our house was descended upon by bugs of various kinds. The first week brought the discovery of bugs in the hair, so I battled lice for the first two weeks of the month. The second week brought the girls getting sick with a fever for 4-5 days (as we continued the battle against lice)...it also brought some lovely visits to the doctor and hospital by myself with all three children in tow. I was frazzled, but I'm sure that we were quite comical at times too. I just kept telling the doctor that the "circus" had arrived. The third week brought the start of school and Luke being sick on the first full day of school! We thought we were in the clear the last week, but on the final day of August Luke got sent home sick from school (he was NOT actually sick come afternoon time) and little sis (on her birthday, nonetheless) got sent home sick from daycare with a 102 degree temp in the afternoon. We already had a follow up appointment set for that afternoon so that part worked out fine, but the nice surprise was the doctor sending us back to the hospital for other tests. Needless to say, both of these children were perfectly fine by the next morning, aka, September!
SEPTEMBER:
Wetter, Cooler, and Healthy!
If there could be such a thing as a completely opposite month, this month would be August's opposite. Everyone stayed healthy the whole month (granted we do still have tomorrow left!) It rained on the very first day of September and for the first several days...I give all the credit to the rain :) I swear it washed away all of the bugs that were floating around in the dust outside-that's my theory anyway! It has been a nice month-I wonder what October has in store...hopefully only good things!
In the last month, Luke has made great strides and shows great pride in his "big brother" role, plus he turned 5! He really enjoys telling people about how he is a big brother now and him and I have had many conversations about why the girls are living with us now; the possibility that the girls could eventually go back home; how he would help and why we can't help their mom and dad; and how he never wants the girls to leave now. If you were around the first two months, you know that during that time there were many conversations that went "I love my little sisters" one minute to "I don't like having little sisters! Send them back!" the next so he has made tremendous progress! :) He also started kindergarten in August and as with everything...it has taken time for him to transition, but we just came off of our first WHOLE good week so we're hoping that he is finally settling back in to routine again...what more could a mom ask for! :)
Big sis (age 2 1/2) has made so many subtle, but great strides since coming to live with us that my heart just swells with pride for her! When she arrived, she maybe had 10-20 words and everything resulted in a scream/tantrum with the word "MINE!" yelled at the top of lungs! Every.single.thing went in her mouth (no matter how gross!) and she was constantly spitting at Luke. Let's just say I was so caught up in their arrival, the changes taking place, controlling interactions between all of the kids and trying to make sure I was doing everything (paperwork/appointments) that I was supposed to do, that I was not completely aware of just how tremendously behind she was with regards to her behaviors. After the first meeting with a screener (about 1 1/2 weeks in), it became quite obvious to me...and then after several more meetings with other screeners, it was even more obvious, but by that point she had already begun to make loads of progress. Oh, she is still behind in many areas, but the girl can share when she wants to now; she can and does use the word please now (and sometimes even without prompting); there is still occasional spitting, but nowhere near like it was; she no longer screams at every drop of a hat; she has learned to give hugs to say she's sorry; she has added several more words to her vocabulary; she can do our block puzzles without becoming instantaneously frustrated AND I watched her do one all by herself this week!; she LOVES books; she has one of the prettiest smiles and she loves to cuddle/give hugs...what more could a mom ask for! :)
Little sis (age 1...she celebrated a birthday the day after Luke's!) started out so sweet (and she still is, of course), but is starting to show her spunky side too! She has gone from a 10 month old girl who was a good crawler, but much preferred to be held any chance she got (and would just cry until someone picked her up). Normally, I would not have given in every time, but due to the trauma they were initially experiencing caused by all of the changes they experienced in the course of a few days...I knew it was better to just pick her up, comfort her, and make her feel safe/secure than to assume I was caving in to a tantrum at that point in time. Once she knew, we weren't leaving her and she wasn't leaving us anytime soon...she became great friends with the floor! :) I witnessed her shocked/scared reaction to pulling herself up in her crib for the first time and the girl has never looked back! She has learned to crawl up the stairs, is not afraid of trying to get to any place she wants to get to, she can climb into sister's bed, and she just took her first couple steps without holding on yesterday! Of course, I placed her on her feet just a few feet away from me and started clapping for her to come to me...so it might have been somewhat "staged" but she did do it and she did it again several times! I could tell by the look on her face that she thought it was fun, but she is also just not quite brave enough to do it by herself yet! She is a sweetie, lots of fun, and can always make the rest of smile...what more could a mom ask for! :)
AUGUST:
Hot, Dry, and Bugs!
The drought continued on around here and our house was descended upon by bugs of various kinds. The first week brought the discovery of bugs in the hair, so I battled lice for the first two weeks of the month. The second week brought the girls getting sick with a fever for 4-5 days (as we continued the battle against lice)...it also brought some lovely visits to the doctor and hospital by myself with all three children in tow. I was frazzled, but I'm sure that we were quite comical at times too. I just kept telling the doctor that the "circus" had arrived. The third week brought the start of school and Luke being sick on the first full day of school! We thought we were in the clear the last week, but on the final day of August Luke got sent home sick from school (he was NOT actually sick come afternoon time) and little sis (on her birthday, nonetheless) got sent home sick from daycare with a 102 degree temp in the afternoon. We already had a follow up appointment set for that afternoon so that part worked out fine, but the nice surprise was the doctor sending us back to the hospital for other tests. Needless to say, both of these children were perfectly fine by the next morning, aka, September!
SEPTEMBER:
Wetter, Cooler, and Healthy!
If there could be such a thing as a completely opposite month, this month would be August's opposite. Everyone stayed healthy the whole month (granted we do still have tomorrow left!) It rained on the very first day of September and for the first several days...I give all the credit to the rain :) I swear it washed away all of the bugs that were floating around in the dust outside-that's my theory anyway! It has been a nice month-I wonder what October has in store...hopefully only good things!
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