SpRiNg BrEaK!

We don't always vacation during spring break, so it wasn't much different this year. Some years, I will travel with the kids to visit friends and/or cousins. Other times, we might have a visitor or two in our home.


This time, it was about being at home.


I tried to offer the big kids plenty of opportunities to earn some money with my daily activity/to-do list. While I don't think they maxed out their earning potential, I think they will still come out with a little extra dough in their wallets. I tried not to be the too-mean mommy and include fun activities as well as a few household and learning expectations. This allowed my house to not get too overwhelmed and my kids to enjoy science experiments and a family game every day.


I usually spend 3 hours a week at the kids' school providing therapy services, so I took advantage of that break in my schedule to cram most of my home health kids on one work day this week.


The weather has been crazy cooperative this week. Thank goodness! Cool mornings. Warm afternoons. Cool evenings. A breeze even when it was warm. Perfect. On Friday afternoon, I sat on my front sidewalk watching Brax play in the sand pit-his home away from home-while the sun hid behind a cloud and the breeze was just right.

I was worried how this week would go. Brax had his adnoids removed last year and we really felt that it was not really an option to let the tonsils hang around any longer. I would concur with our ENT when he described his tonsils as "ginormous". He fell into the same herditary trap as Anysa and Luke. My kids never experienced an abundance of sickness, just poor breathing and sleep. I actually have to say that we have been super blessed that our kids are rarely, rarely sick. Well, unless you count Luke who just happened to get a short-lived virus/croup thing 2 days before Brax had his tonsils removed. Fun!


Brax had his tonsils removed Monday morning and the benefits are already very evident. The last two nights he has had excellent sleep and I can barely hear him breathing. I really didn't expect that so soon knowing that there would be some swelling from the surgery, but WOW what a difference. As we thought, he mostly slept, took meds, and a few sips of liquid the first day and a half. He perked up more after that, although I could tell that he tired easily. He had no argument for me when I suggested we take a nap! Wednesday afternoon found him playing quietly in the sand pit during the cool morning hours. Thursday and beyond? Well, he has been pretty active. He hasn't even had any pain meds since Wednesday morning. That was the last time I forced it down him as he fought me all the way. We decided to see how he did with just taking the antibiotic. Little dude has been pushing the med in himself and we are all happier when the med cart comes around! I'm hoping the pain stays away, but we still have scabbing and scab sloughing to take place, so we will see! For now, he is enjoying his soft foods and I am enjoying his sweet little gargly voice when he talks to me.


I guess I thought having his tonsils out wasn't enough excitement. This month, we have played around with potty training. I didn't want to get too serious knowing surgery was coming up, but he has had some success when I offer the opportunity. He has actually volunteered a few times this week and enjoys sharing his accomplishments! Last weekend, we transitioned his crib to a toddler day bed. Of course, he loved the novelty of it at first! He slept with us a few nights post surgery, but has actually gone to sleep in his bed the rest of the week. AFTER, lots of books, a few tears, and mommy resting beside him until he drifted off. I don't mind because I get those sweet moments all to myself! ;)


The kids and I escaped the house on Friday afternoon to go see the Lorax. Although it was true to the original story/intent of Dr. Seuss (yes, I went home and looked it up!), I felt myself rolling my eyes several times at the propaganda feel of it. It was cute, had a message, and entertained 3 young children for 1.5 hours. I'll take it!


Friday evening, my husband and his dad and friend started work on our mini-barn raising. I had to make a massive grocery run to include our regular needs along with meals for the barn boys and family every night. It will mostly be my husband and his friend the whole week, but I imagine that his dad will stop in to help a few days as well. Should be interesting! Anysa will soon be the proud owner of a goat she will raise for the county fair, so the plan is to accomodate animals and all the manly equipment that is currently stealing my garage space from me! Anysa is hoping this a jumping board for her horse one day soon! :)


Saturday included a green breakfast in honor of St. Patrick's day, a trip to the store for some new flowers and gardening supplies, and me finally getting some items spray painted that have been hanging around waaaay too long. We spent lots of time outside as the weather continued to be just right and enjoyed a big lasagna meal at the end of the day.


Today, the boys got more done on the barn while the big kids started back with swim team practice. The weather was incredible again. Yes, I feel like a broken record but, oh so true!


The kids head back to school tomorrow. I have enjoyed having them home this week and feel fueled with a few ideas on how to plan our summer. It's just around the corner, so I better get busy!


Sorry no pictures. The ones of Brax are on my new phone and I don't know how to get them off. The rest I am just too lazy to download then upload from my camera right now!


Have a great week!

Stacey

My theme this week is....

Here is a picture preview to give you a hint as to my topics for the rest of the week!











OH YES, I promise they are all related to water!!

Stacey

Faith like a child

Luke is sufficiently potty trained from the anterior point of view and he has made great strides the last 2 weeks from the posterior point of view!

And while I strive to ensure that my children empty their bladders prior to leaving the house, well, things do come up that we can't control.

Like 3 year old bladders!

So, possibly, on a couple of occasions, a certain son's mother might have allowed her son to relieve himself in a paper cup that, just happened to have been available in the car.

Applicable rules to this type of situation were discussed in great detail.

Somehow, however, a 3 year old's mind interprets that discussion to include the JUST.PROFESSIONALLY.CLEANED.KITCHEN.FLOOR.AND.TILE.GROUT!
With a perfectly good plastic drinking cup!

While in the middle of kneeling down to his level and making it PERFECTLY.CLEAR that this does NOT happen in the house with a PERFECTLY.GOOD.BATHROOM.TOILET.AVAILABLE, he lowered his eyes and face and got this pouty mouth and said,

"But I just prasin God."

Thank goodness he is not old enough to partake in communion.

Stacey

From top to bottom

Ok, so really this is about head (more specifically the mouth area) to bottom (literally!). I had originally wanted to title this post "Flossing and Pooping", but didn't want to lose anyone before they even read the first sentence. And for those that don't say the words "peepee" and "poopoo" (or some other version in the same family) at least 20 times a day, then this post might not be for you.

For about 2 weeks now, Luke and I have been serious about moving beyond diapers and even pull-ups during the day. Honestly, he has shown interest several times before over the last year probably due to having a big sister and Mommy that he watches in the bathroom on a regular basis. Whenever we tried, he was interested in the novelty of it but that quickly wore off and frankly....I didn't have the energy to push it or waste money on pull-ups if he wasn't really ready.

And if one is honest, this whole transition into the "big boy" world is really more about mommies than them. First, the whole idea that they are no longer your baby has just too any entangled emotions to go into here-but you know what I mean. And second, we know who really does all the work when it comes to this endeavor.

So....2 weeks ago, I decided that Luke would start wearing just underwear on the days we were home (M/W/F/S/S). I was armed with a small potty, a stool for the big potty, new underwear (and a few hand-me-downs, thanks Kim!), candy, a cool Scooby Doo calendar chart I made on the computer, plenty of wipees, and a big bottle of carpet cleaner!

I think I might be the Potty Whisperer!

Luke is rocking at this thing. Yes, he has had accidents, but not as many as I imagined. After week 1, I even sent him to school in pull-ups and asked his teachers to join our party! That has proven successful as well. Then last Thursday as I was picking him up from school, he had that look, so we ran to the bathroom and he did IT! He continued to do IT on Friday-Monday. He is telling us when he needs to go and is even trying to make it there for IT, while sometimes not quite making it there for all of IT. I can totally deal with that! And who doesn't enjoy long, meaningful conversations with and free entertainment from your 3 year old (almost)while in the bathroom. Conversations and entertainment ranging from the cool trinket or gum that the Sleep Fairy brought him from the night before to his wonderment about the "pokey things" that he is rubbing on his chest as he sits naked on the toilet to how he can make his peepee to tricks to doing the famous naked "booty" dance and chanting "booty, booty, booty" after Mommy declares "you rock"!

While I still have him wearing pull-ups with underwear when we go out or he goes to school, we are consistent then too. I even let him go on a bike ride around the neighborhood the other day with only underwear on under his shorts. I figured if nothing else, we would have a lesson on "How to discreetly pee outside".

I feel our disposable underwear budget is on the verge of decreasing soon......at least for awhile IF I ever decide about you-know-what. I might even go get a pedicure AND a manicure without feeling guilty once that happens!!

The flossing thing is a whole other story related to our friends who have kids with cavities and how brushing/flossing/rinsing is this huge routine to them now. It is about my laziness with getting my kids to brush regularly, not even considering how I would get them to floss. So again, this is really about me and getting serious about something important.

The other day, I bought 2 packages of the cute kid's flossing sticks. Of course, the kids thought is was the coolest thing. They started off trying themselves, then let me finish the job. Now, I am determined to get on a schedule of brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day.

Until next when who knows what bodily functions I may write about......

Stacey