Mother's Day 2016

When you are a kid you think your mother is great. She loves you, she gives you hugs and kisses when you need them and when you don't. Sometimes she even takes you out for ice cream.  However, until you yourself become a mother you don't realize how much your mother gave you.  I'm even 95% convinced even fathers don't truly understand what a mom does (unless there isn't a mom to do them), so let me explain for all you non-mothers or soon to be mothers. 

1. A mom gives up her brain: The amount of time I spend finding everyone else's crap I am truly amazed when I can find anything of mine when I need it.  Granted I loose my car keys, cell phone, glasses, and pens within 30 seconds, all while standing/sitting in one spot, but that's because I just found four shoes that were spread across two stories and in four different rooms, the pjs the kids took off in the most random places while I was trying to shower, a stuffed animal that wandered into the car during dinner, and that random piece of foam you found at the store today and are now convinced it is a piece of pirate treasure that you have to keep within arms reach (except when you went to the bathroom an forgot about it for an hour).

2. A mom gives up sleep: Some mothers give up sleep for a much longer period of time than others, but we all do it. Personally I have lost at least 3 years of sleep in the past 7 years of being a mother.  I had a weird issue while pregnant that I would only sleep for about 2-3 hours a night. Then the sleep sucking babies were born and needed attention throughout the nights.  Apparently those cute adorable babies need to eat, even at night, and someone needs to feed them.  After they are done with night feedings they create new reasons to need you, sickness, bloody nose, bad dreams, they can't find the rock they snuck into bed after you told them "no" seven times to.  Even after they out grow that stage they invent something like sleep talking or walking, you can't sleep for a moment thinking you will wake up with your child sleep standing next to your bed.  I think my personal favorite was when my child started sleep screaming in the middle of the night when my husband wasn't home.  I thought the adrenaline was going to give me a heart attach.

3. A mom gives up warm meals: For all children up through age 4 the best gift they can give their mother is a warm meal. I would even settle for a reheated meal some nights.  I will admit, I'm not a great cook, only because I don't have the time or the patience to cook after a full day of work, but still eating what is supposed to be warm food while it is still warm would be wonderful.  I spend so much time cutting, feeding, serving, grabbing the stuff that I left on the counter that by the time I sit down to eat everyone is done and my husband is putting away the leftovers. Not only is the food cold, but now I'm also alone eating it. 

4. A mom gives up a clean organized house: It's been said before but I will say it again, cleaning a house while you have small children is the definition of insanity. Babies are programmed robots to remove anything and everything from the organization they are placed in (books on shelves, toys in baskets, food in the pantry) they actually follow you around while you're cleaning and undo everything 10 seconds after you do it.  Older children are just messy.  My son and toothpaste are in an epic battle that I have sworn off his bathroom for the next 10 years because I just don't understand how there could be toothpaste in the locations I have found it.  At this point it might be easier to move than clean.

There are many more things mothers do that go unnoticed by their children for many many years, however, once they notice them they have a higher amount of respect for their mothers and are amazed that even in an age without technology, our mothers survived.  Maybe there is still hope for us.  Maybe someday my children will understand what I did for them, maybe they won't, either way, I wouldn't give it up for the world. A belly laugh and a slobber kiss from the baby and a hand colored card from the older kid is compensation enough for all I give up.  

Love you kids, love you mom. 

What can I do?

The words I can't hate more, "What can I do?" I usually hear this after I tell the boy child to turn off the tv and when I tell him technology is not an option.  Gee, I don't know maybe you can play with one of the thousand of toys you have in the play area.  He needs a specific toy to play with and 80% of the time he doesn't like my suggestion. Now in all fairness he has a bunch of games that would require me to play with him and since I have to deal with Allison that doesn't always work out. But he also has a bunch of other things he can do.

Yesterday I heard it again, "what can I do?" Jokingly I replied, " read, feed Alli, change Alli, make breakfast." He chose to feed Allison. I was going to say no, but there was no real justification as to why I should say no.  What's the worst to happen, she look like a hot mess when she is done? That happens anyway. Go for it kid.

I put her in the chair and went off to make her food, when I turned my back he put a big on her and was talking to her to tell her he was going to feed her. This is what happens next. 

These two love each other so much. Allison thinks Elijah is the best thing ever and will scream in joy when she sees him. Elijah thinks Allison is just the best and loves her more than words can express. I am blessed with the relationship they have and hope it stays around a while. 

I did realize that the open mouth to get the kid to open their mouth is instinct, and she was a hot mess when we were all done.

Say Hello to my Little Friend

I'm still trying to figure out a name for my new baby, but if I name her we will be best friends and I won't leave her behind.  I hope.  So here I am presenting...

The brand new Fitbit One.  Here is my rational behind a One instead of the kind that you wear on your wrist is because I don't want one on my wrist ALL THE TIME.  That was about it.  That and I had a pedometer a few years ago and loved it but I was missing the fact that I couldn't tell me the number of stairs I did a day.  Then I was pregnant and I really didn't want to see how few steps I was taking because I already knew it was way below where I should be.  But new year, new tech.  Now I'm off to go find some new clothes for it on Amazon!  

P.S. Elijah and I went on a date early this morning to see Star Wars...AMAZING can't wait until the next one.  

2015 in a few pictures

Snow Storm of 2015

 Easter (growing a baby)

 April in the Daffodil fields

 May brings with it a new baby.  Big brother loved her at first sight

 June birthday trip to the zoo

 My birthday boy

 July boat trip

 August- 9 year anniversary

 Baptism

 Halloween

 Christmas

 Allison wearing the dress her mommy wore when she was 6 months old

 My loves

So...That Happened

2015 was not a great year for me. Great things happened and I wouldn't trade them for then world, however, in getting to the end I can look back and see the blah moments more than the sunny ones.  

First off 2015 brought with it our second child.  Allison was born on "Star Wars" day (May the 4th). It was a beautiful day that day.  I woke up on my first day of maturity leave (a week before my due date) with a list of items to do while Elijah was at school that day.  I had plans for how to get him to and from school in case I went into labor I was all set. Except at 5:00 am I was convinced my water had broke so I woke everyone up dressed the boy put everyone in the car and made myself some tea.  We dropped Elijah off with my dad and went on to the hospital. I actually felt contractions this time around.  With Elijah it just felt like a continual Charlie Horse in my abdomen. This time around it was text book contractions. When they told me my water hadn't broke, I was fearful they would send me home, but since I needed two doses of antibiotics they kept me there and started the IV.  I don't remember this with Elijah but holy pain! I think that was more painful than the actual contractions.  Everything went well and after they broke my water they realized the cord was around the baby's neck so they had me wait 10 minutes which turned into an hour.  By 3 we were all so board and slap happy we were giving the nurses a run for their money.  3-4 pushes later baby girl was out and I was so relieved it was a girl I cried. I love baby girl but the road to get there was a very bumpy one. 

The first four months of 2015 were probably the hardest ones of my life.  I suffered from sciatic pain in both hips, lower back pain, and worst and most persistent was the dislocation of my pelvic joint. Every day one to all of the issues showed their ugly face.  I was also a basket of blubbering hormones. I was down right crazy pregnate lady. By about February I stopped sleeping more than 2 hours in a row and no more than 4 hours a night. 

After Allison was born I had an easy first few weeks with Elijah in school and a neighbor taking him to and from almost every day. Then the bottom dropped out. While in the hospital I received an email from the state saying I didn't have the qualifications to get my real school licenses unless I took 4 classes.  Because I didn't understand what they were saying I didn't take action quickly, turned out I really did need to take 4 classes by the end of January.  I am now a current student to the University of Phoenix.  I spend most my nights completing course work or projects, not fun. 

As with Elijah I wanted to nurse Allison as long as possible. She was born in the 80-90 percentile for weight and around her 2 month visit had dropped to 60 something percentile. I started going crazy about feeding, how much she was eating, how often, how to increase my production. I had gotten to a point that every 2 hours I was either pumping or nursing (all which took 20-30 minutes). When we went back at 4 months Allison was closer to the 20 something percentile than anything else.  That did it.  I was failing my baby, the world, life. It was horrible. On top of all that around 3 months I was trying to bottle feed Allison and she refused the bottle. The first 2 weeks at daycare she wouldn't eat...at all.  I was heartbroken and there was no one that I felt truly understood how I was feeling (I actually don't think I knew until after I was done). I introduced formula as a 2 oz supplement to bottles during the day and nursed at night.  By her 6th month visit she was back over the 50th percentile which helped calm me, but still made me feel like a parental failure. 

I started this pregnancy out about 15 pounds heavier than my ideal body weight, I proceeded to put on an additional 40 pounds.  After she was out the weight called my body home.  That and the food was so delicious. At this point (almost 8 months post) I am still 25-30 pounds over where I want to be.  But with the job, mom/wife duties and classes, there isn't much time left to be more active.  

Don't get me wrong, my life is still great, but I am having a crazy time adjusting to the new two kid family.  I have two weeks left of my last class, Allison is consistently eating stage two baby food but not yet sleeping through the night, Bj has a wonderful amazing job, the dog is getting along with us, and I have both a boy and a girl child that love each other. 

Here's to 2016 to become a steady, stable, normal. With 6 full hours of sleep a night. My goals are simple, yet extensive this year. 

Shoes and their laces

We have all heard them. Those short comments that make such a huge impact they stick with you forever. I think any comment that questions your parenting no matter what kind of parent you are hurts 10 times more than anything else.  

Well known fact, I'm a pediatric Speech Language Pathologist and developmental milestones are a huge perseveration/ hobby of mine.  I like to know a majority of the gross motor stages, (rolling, sitting, crawling, walking) and of course the speech/language ones (totally not enough time), and fine motor (grap patterns, sensory, writing and other stuff).  When it came to these milestones I was, well, hypersensitive to these things.  Watching, observing, not pushing too soon but knowing to push a bit more as we came close to the end of "typically" developing range.  I pride myself on the fact that Elijah has hit almost all skills within age range and never too early. I didn't push potty training until 2.5 years even though he probably could have done it closer to 2. Stair climbing/both feet leaving the ground, not his strong point, but he can play on the playground fine and I don't have fears of broken bones in my future.  We're all good.  I do confess though, I did bring him in for a speech screening because I'll be damned if my child shows up at school and needed speech services!!

That comment I was hinting at? Oh you know, when I knew the independence of my 2-3 year old was more important than skills that are too advanced for them and allowed Elijah to have Velcro shoes/boots/sandals.  Here's the comment, are you ready? 

"All these kids with these Velcro shoes these days, no one ever takes the time to reach them how to tie.  Kids and parents are just so lazy now days."

It would be one thing if I over heard this in a store, but I didn't.  It was in my home, made about my son's shoes.  I kid you not, it took every ounce of strength to not turn around wave my developmental milestone knowledge in their face.  It hurt.  I did though sit on this until 7 days before my son turned 5. We have started shoe tying.  It's a hard thing to learn and teach. The number of steps, the fine motor, it's a lot for a little kid.  

To make matters worse for the poor boy, everyone is teaching him a different way.  Giving him their extra two cents on "how this will make it easier."  We only started yesterday, my goal is for him to get the shoe lace cross, under and pull tight.  STOP. That's it.  The loops need to be done on longer laces than what he has on his shoes, but he doesn't stop trying.

Tonight ended in tears out of frustration. But he is so motivated. Probably because he can't wear his superman shoes to school, until he can tie them myself. We will keep trying, we will get this and he can wear those shoes on the first day of kindergarten.

Made up words

All kids do it, either make  up words or mispronounce words.  Elijah is in that stage of life.  He is learning so much vocabulary right now he was bound to get some errors in.  I would have been upset if he didn't to tell you the truth.  For example, Brebrember=remember.  But my favorite one has to be, globby.  From my understanding globby means blurry or fuzzy.  Ways I have heard it in sentences by the creator, my eyes are globby but if I rub them it goes away.  Or it is really globby outside (foggy).  Everyday any he says something new that I enjoy he keeps me on my toes that's for sure.

P.S. Elijah is eligible for walk in speech but I think I will pass and just deal with it over the summer.  

The day has come

I feel as though I should start with a duh duh dunnnnnnnn or at least a trumpet dododadooooo.  Elijah is going in for a speech screening at the school district.  I know you can say it I won't judge, "it's about time!"  I know, I know.  I have known since he was just shy of 3. I knew he needed speech, I knew his speech development was not normal, I also know that once an atypical speech pattern starts it will not correct itself.  I know that there are phonological processes that should disappear by certain ages.  Yet I waited.  I needed a job and no time over the last 2 years was I able to get my son in for therapy and back home in between what I was doing.   I know I know.  Tomorrow I will know for real if my SLP and mothers intuition were correct or just in crazy over drive.  And since Elijah has to come with me to second job maybe I'll throw him at my coworker there and have her evaluate him too.  Summer 2014 is the summer of speech for little man.  

Kindergarten

It can't be.  My baby is old.  Next Monday is Kindergarten registration for our home school so that's where I will be.  However, I am new to this whole school thing.  You have to jump through some crazy hoops or be super organized, neither of these things I am great at.  I need my son's most recent physical (daycare can't find it), a dental report (appointment is for Thursday after registration), and a vision exam (yeah I got nothing). I had no clue the state of no money, I mean the state of Illinois requires kids to have eye exams before entering kindergarten. Well that is not going to get done before next Monday.  I also have to bring his original birth certificate, our mortgage statement, a water bill, and a gas bill. You have to fill out about 20 forms and sign things that make me laugh for a kindergarten student, like the internet policy.  I mean my kid can bairly spell, if he gets onto a site he isn't supposed tto, call google and get him a job.  The security in the schools are crazy, I can't even get to some teacher sites because they are blocked, I think my son will be okay.  Oh and get this we have the option of either half day kindergarten or full day.  Being a kid who spends 50 hours a week in daycare, I think he can handle full day school. Plus I'm a working mother, I can't pick him up half way through the day.  Nope. Full day it is. Here's the kicker though, cost of registering a half day kid $35 bucks, full day $250... WHAT!!!! That math doesn't seem right but whatever. 

Here goes nothing...I'll let you know if I cry at registration.  

A boy and a party.

Alright so I'm blogging more, but still not taking pictures on our lives.  Let's do baby steps here okay? 

The little girl across the drive had her birthday party today.  And since her parents love her more than we love Elijah, she actually gets to invite friends to her party (but that's a story for another day).  The party was held at an indoor golf/bounce house place.  The first hour we were there the kids we're running between three bounce houses that there was no chance of taking pictures, then of course the golf was all in black light so any pictures I wanted to take just turned out black. Talk about boring.

So due to us knowing that this party was coming up and it is for one of Elijah's closest friends, I didn't tell him of the party until last night.  We went out to get a gift for her and I told Elijah that it was her birthday.  It took us a while to understand we were not getting anything for ourselves, but once he got that down he was super excited to pick out a gift.  When he woke up today he came into our room and was making the plan to get to the party at 7:30 am.  I had to explain to him that the party wasn't until the afternoon.  About an hour later as we were all still in our jammies, he was concerned we were going to miss it and needed to go.  30 minutes later while drinking my coffee I realize Eli was extra quiet to find m putting on his boots and coat.  Good grief child, we won't let you miss the party.  We were able to get him to help wrap the gift and convince him to cut his hair and shower all with the phrase, "don't you want to look and smell good for the party?"  While showering he request to were his tie to the party and I agree.  After the shower I send him down to find his tie, again he disappears for a bit and I call down to him.  He again has his boots, and coat on.  I tell him again we still have an hour to go.  We are just about to leave and I get a text from the girls mom needing a ride because he car, with the beautiful cupcakes just got rear ended.  So we told Eli we need to wait a bit and he was trying to convince us to leave her behind.  

The party was fun but bitter sweet knowing that her next birthday will be with an entire kindergarten class.  I'm so not ready for this whole school thing.  

Happy birthday Colette.

Joys of potty training

**Warning gross content to come**

Elijah has been doing really well with potty training.  We have the majority of our accidents while sleeping which is expected when a child is having to go potty every 2-4 hours sleeps 12 at night.  The other day I was up earlier than normal and getting ready so for once, I would not look like my head was on fire as we were running out the door.  Well, as life typically goes, as you try to get a head of one thing your thrown a curve ball. 

BJ was also going to leave early but poked his head in Elijah's room to see if he was awake.  Not even 3 minutes later he is back in our bathroom saying we have an accident and he needs help.  Alright I'm good with that, two bodies are better than one.  Then he informs me it's a poopy accident.  Really?  I don't want to deal with that, but I'm already committed.  I think Elijah went several days with out pooping and that's what let to this issue but he had so much poop in his pants I was floored.  Now I don't know about you but I don't have a lot of practice for getting poopy pants off a toddler.  As I tried to remove his undies keeping as much of the poop contained as possible I failed miserably and PLOP right on the floor.  I though it was a lot of poop in his pants but I then thought it was a whole lot more now that it was on the bathroom floor.  Then to make matters even worse Elijah successfully stepped in it.  EWWWWWWWWWWW BJ then gave him a shower while I cleaned up the floor.  We thought we were good floor clean, boy clean, boy dressed, bedding and clothing in the washer and I was back getting ready.  BJ then came into say goodbye for the 5th time and he realized he had poop on his pants so he had to change too.  I mean really we were covered in poop.  I was just glad the poop hit the floor and not the fan, I probably would still be up there cleaning it up.  Yuck.

The Zoo

Two or three weekends ago we headed to the zoo, again.  I love the zoo but I hate big crowds so any day I can work in a place that people don't want to go because of  this that or the other thing, I'm in.  Well it was a 32 degree Saturday in February and I dragged my boys to the zoo.  We wrapped Elijah up in blankets and off we went.  I think there were maybe, 100 people at the zoo that day. We ran between the houses because during the summer we never would go into the houses.  I don't like leaving the stroller unattended while in the houses with so may people all over, and it kills me to spend time in doors when it's so nice outside.  So lots of reptiles, lots of warm climate animals.  In the 5 or so different houses we went in there were snakes in at least 3 of them.  So Elijah got to learn all about snakes.  I don't like snakes, I don't have a phobia of them like I do of spiders, but I am appropriately scared of them because there are all kinds of poisonous ones and I don't know enough about them to tell you which ones are or are not safe.  Now that we are home Elijah himself has turned into a snake.  Let me tell you as a parent to get your child to go anywhere while they are trying to "slither" like a snake takes HOURS! Luckily he still likes to be a dog or lion too and when he gets to far behind will turn into one of those animals to catch up.  He also wants to do this in public and I absolutely refuse to let him lay on the ground in a store.  Gross! So now I need to get him back to the zoo so we can find a new, faster animal to imitate. 

Sledding

With all the snow and a 2 and a half year old what a better time than to go sledding. 

This is the reason why BJ and I had kids.  It was so we could do cool kid things where there were other kids with out looking like the creepy people without kids.  Being smart though I did not bring the camera because I did not want to kill it.  Elijah loved sledding, other than the part where the snow got all in his face. 

He wanted to stay for hours but seeing as BJ was the only one that was able to pull him up the hill we had to cut it short.  We staged some pictures after we got home in the backyard.  Even Resuce loved the snow.  I think she found something under the snow becuase for about 5 minutes at a time.  I almost thought she wsa going to stop breathing. 

TRAINS

We headed to the Morton Arboretum this weekend with Brian to see trains.  For the 3 adults we came, we saw, and we were ready to go after about 30 minutes.  For the 1 child with us he wanted to sit and watch the trains for hours. 

It was actually very cute, they had it set up so there was a drive in with a a small TV screen that had a closed circuit feed from one of the trains as it drove around.  There was even Thomas and his cars Anne and Clarabelle.

We finally had to call it quits after about an hour because we were getting hungry.  What can I say my child loves Dinos and Trains.  But we stopped and had some coffee before we headed home.  Okay, Elijah really just had water but it he wanted his cup to look like ours. 

Dino's at daycare

What a great month to start this daycare.  It's dino month at daycare.  So far in two days he has been on a dino dig, and made a dino hat.  What else could be perfect for a child who loves dinos, than a new school with dinos.  Today he did nap, and he did great with potty training. 

Daycare

Well Elijah and I both survived yet another day of first day of daycare.  Yes I know, my child is 2 years 6 months and yes I know we are on our 4th daycare.  But in all fairness only two of them I chose to remove him from.  They were not the best environment for Eli.  The last place he was at closed on me without much warning.  But today we started yet another daycare.  I like this one just like I liked my last one.  Let's hope that I continue to like them.  Elijah had a good first day.  He only had one little accident, was bit by a kid, and didn't nap because another new kid did not want to nap and cried the whole time.  Elijah apparently fell asleep less than a block away for school and didn't wake up until about 6:30.  Poor kid.  But like always, he was a great kid.  The teachers were impressed with his eating ability and his ability to stick with the structure.  I can't wait to see what things he creates. 

Tales from a potty training mother

Here is another one of those moments when before you have children you don't know the whole story, even after you have a child you still don't truly understand what you get your self into or how to handle it.  Now I have entered the stage of parenthood called potty training.  Anyone you ever talk to who has kids tells you this about potty training. "Oh well when Jr. was little he was potty trained in 5 days.  I just let him/her run around for a while without pants."  What they don't tell you.  In those 5 days you spend every waking moment listening for dripping water, your eyes are glued to your child's crotch making sure their undies are not getting wet and all you can think about is when the last time they peed, when they need to pee next, and how much laundry you will have to do.  They also fail to mention that during that time you can't do anything because of the above statement.  But at the same time what they don't tell you is during your waking hours with your child because you have to be within arms reach of them at all times to run them to the potty in case they start going is you have some great bonding time.  Yeah the anxiety of pee makes you forget about the rest of life and focus 100% on your little child.  The last time I was able to do this was during maternity leave but then I was sleepy, crabby, and frustrated the child didn't do much but sleep, cry, eat, and poop. 

What I have learned though was that PMS and potty training should not go together. 

What happened?

Some kids ask "why," some kids ask "what's this," some kids ask "wha happen?"  Translation What happened?  BJ and I are starting to think this is a frequently used phrase at daycare.  I like it.  When ever Elijah asks he has the sweetest tone in his voice.  as though he really is caring about what is really happening or what had happened.  Some times we even get a bit of a hand flip too.  However, as with the lovely question of why coming up with an answer is not always easy, especially when you take into consideration that only about half of what Elijah says is understandable.  The kid also has eagle eyes and can see things that normal people cannot, let alone ones with glasses that are not the right prescription.  Then throw in a moving car, your lucky if you even know what he is talking about let alone have any idea about how to answer the question. 

What we do to our child

Elijah currently has a very large scrape on his chin.  The way he got it... BJ threw him off the swing set while yelling "I'm the king of the mountain!"  Okay maybe not.  It was more of a slow dismount from a porch swing that ended up with Elijah face down in a pile of wood chips.  Poor kid.  Now if you ask him what happened he tells you, "Daddy did it."

I goch you mommy!

As the weather turns colder getting out of my nice warm bed gets harder and harder.  Actually, the weather is just a new excuse for me to not get out of bed in the morning.  I have the same trouble all year long.  But that's beside the point.  Today was another one of those days and I was running a tid bit behind.  BJ was not running as behind as I was and after getting dressed told me he was going down stairs to eat and leave.  He did then came back up as I was about to go get Elijah.  We both got our crabby kid up and today must have been sponsored by the word "NO."  Any question asked was answered with our favorite word.  "Elijah, do you want to wear this shirt today?" NOOOOOO.  "Do you want to wear these pants or these pants? Naaooooo. It was everything.  At that point BJ exited stage Left.  That was fine with me.  I had the patients for this today.  I finally convinced Elijah that since he did not want to wear socks today he needed to take off his footie pajamas.  It was a deal.  I have basically mastered the stand up diaper change so as long as I had the PJ's off I was good.  I just pulled down his PJ's but did not take them off his feet.  I needed leverage if he broke down later.  I took off his diaper and it was FULL.  The kid must have had a gallon of water to drink before he went to bed last night. 

As I took off his diaper I wrapped it up...and then it happened.  It took me a while to realize what "it" was but "it" was pee, and "it" was on me.  I freaked.  Ahh, pee.  What do I do to stop it?  I don't know, grab something, THE DIAPER.  As I put the diaper up to catch the pee I realize I had the water proof side catching the pee which means it was just spraying all over me.  I then yell at Elijah to "STOP"  I think I frightened him so he did.  Then I tried to gain my composure and figure out what to do next.  Thought to long more pee.  This time I decided to hold my hand out so it wouldn't spray on me.  Great idea.  Now I had a hand full of pee.  Now what genius?  I finally just pick him up and carry him to the bathroom.  He was done peeing by that time.  I wash my hand, call BJ who was only a couple of blocks away and he came back home.  I then had to change my pants and clean up pee while BJ got Elijah dressed.  From the bedroom I hear Elijah say, "I pee Mommy"  BJ laughs and Elijah follows it up with, "I goch you Mommy."