Friday, August 23, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Yesterday I went to physical therapy. She said the hand looks great. Amazed at how much swelling there still is and the stitches...I was thinking 4 or 5 stitches...closer to 15! Already getting good movement. The finger itself does not hurt (bone) but just the incision. I will continue to wear a splint periodically, but it sure is nice having it off and getting some movement. Amazing how stiff things can get after 7 days. The only issue right now is splitting open the stitches, so I have to be careful how far I bend it.
All the boys need a haircut, but it always scares me because they never seem to cut it right. I took B for his haircut. He wants to continue letting his hair grown out, but it needs some shape. I told her to trim it up. Then I made the mistake of asking her how guys let their hair grow out without it looking like a mullet. I noticed she was cutting the front a little short (okay, way short) so I walked over there. I was running my fingers through his hair and telling him how much I love his curls. Then I turned around and walked back over to the chair. I looked up and the curls were gone! She somehow took my comments as I wanted a 'Justin Bieber' haircut. I was livid. It took everything I had not scream at her from across the room. I kept reminding myself that it was just a haircut and it would grow back...that school pictures were probably a month away and it would look better...that B did not seem too upset, so don't make a big deal about it. I am still really irritated by it and trying to figure out why. I guess it is because I felt like she did not even listen to me and if she did and there was any confusion she should have clarified. Next time we will tell her to trim 1/4 to 1/2 inch off. Just one more rant...the only way Justin Bieber's hair looks the way it does is because he uses a lot of gel/hair spray and has someone to fix it every time he shakes his head. The average Bieber cut 'falls' every time you move. Uugghh. (I just asked B if he liked it and he told me he does not like Bieber and he does not like his hair - but then it would grow out....)
The boys got their teacher assignments. We start school next Wed. Jbird has a male teacher - first time for either of the boys - he is very excited.
Next week I am going to start implementing some schedule routines. One thing will be a menu of foods for the week. So today B and I were in the kitchen preparing some small desserts for the freezer. He made cup cakes and home made brownies all by himself. I made some breakfast cookies - it will take some getting use to because they don't taste a lot like 'cookies' but will be a very quick, healthy breakfast for the boys.
Fair warning...here is a picture of my finger....if you don't like this stuff, then close out the page (still trying to get the orange coloring off of it from the anti bacterial stuff they put on it
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All the boys need a haircut, but it always scares me because they never seem to cut it right. I took B for his haircut. He wants to continue letting his hair grown out, but it needs some shape. I told her to trim it up. Then I made the mistake of asking her how guys let their hair grow out without it looking like a mullet. I noticed she was cutting the front a little short (okay, way short) so I walked over there. I was running my fingers through his hair and telling him how much I love his curls. Then I turned around and walked back over to the chair. I looked up and the curls were gone! She somehow took my comments as I wanted a 'Justin Bieber' haircut. I was livid. It took everything I had not scream at her from across the room. I kept reminding myself that it was just a haircut and it would grow back...that school pictures were probably a month away and it would look better...that B did not seem too upset, so don't make a big deal about it. I am still really irritated by it and trying to figure out why. I guess it is because I felt like she did not even listen to me and if she did and there was any confusion she should have clarified. Next time we will tell her to trim 1/4 to 1/2 inch off. Just one more rant...the only way Justin Bieber's hair looks the way it does is because he uses a lot of gel/hair spray and has someone to fix it every time he shakes his head. The average Bieber cut 'falls' every time you move. Uugghh. (I just asked B if he liked it and he told me he does not like Bieber and he does not like his hair - but then it would grow out....)
The boys got their teacher assignments. We start school next Wed. Jbird has a male teacher - first time for either of the boys - he is very excited.
Next week I am going to start implementing some schedule routines. One thing will be a menu of foods for the week. So today B and I were in the kitchen preparing some small desserts for the freezer. He made cup cakes and home made brownies all by himself. I made some breakfast cookies - it will take some getting use to because they don't taste a lot like 'cookies' but will be a very quick, healthy breakfast for the boys.
Fair warning...here is a picture of my finger....if you don't like this stuff, then close out the page (still trying to get the orange coloring off of it from the anti bacterial stuff they put on it
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Monday, August 19, 2013
Learning to get along with one hand. Fortunately, the splint comes off Tuesday. Weird to think it is one week start to finish - minus any therapy.
The surgery on Thursday was fine. I certainly was not expecting all the hoop la. I guess I envisioned it being like when I go to the dermatologist and they have cut a spot out. The surgery center where they did my finger, was a mini hospital. I had to put the gown on, hair net and booties. I was given a nerve block and I think something that relaxed me but did not put me all the way under. I was awake the whole time. They put some kind of tourniquet on my arm and I am pretty sure that it squeezed down to the bone. It hurt far more than any part of my finger has hurt. They said they can keep the tourniquet on for up to 2 hours within it killing cells. I think my arm was close to purple when they took it off 42 minutes later.
The boys have been great. The morning of my surgery they made me breakfast and delivered it upstairs to me. They also drew me pictures.
After the surgery I took a pain pill - not that I was in pain, everyone just warned me to stay on top of the pain and not to wait until it hurt. I woke up that night at midnight and took another one. I woke up at 6am Friday and took another one. When I finally got out of bed at 8:30, I was sick. Spent the next 5 hours throwing up, dizzy and just plain not feeling good. I pulled up side effects from the pain meds and had them all except low blood pressure. I probably had that one, I just could not check my bp by myself. Not sure if I got sick because of the meds or because I took the 6am med without food. So, with the weekend approaching, called the doctor and got an ant-nausea medication. Took both Friday night and did well. So, half the time I have had no drugs and not been hurting too bad...maybe pain 2 out of 10.
I have an appt Tuesday to get it unwrapped and start moving things.
The surgery on Thursday was fine. I certainly was not expecting all the hoop la. I guess I envisioned it being like when I go to the dermatologist and they have cut a spot out. The surgery center where they did my finger, was a mini hospital. I had to put the gown on, hair net and booties. I was given a nerve block and I think something that relaxed me but did not put me all the way under. I was awake the whole time. They put some kind of tourniquet on my arm and I am pretty sure that it squeezed down to the bone. It hurt far more than any part of my finger has hurt. They said they can keep the tourniquet on for up to 2 hours within it killing cells. I think my arm was close to purple when they took it off 42 minutes later.
The boys have been great. The morning of my surgery they made me breakfast and delivered it upstairs to me. They also drew me pictures.
After the surgery I took a pain pill - not that I was in pain, everyone just warned me to stay on top of the pain and not to wait until it hurt. I woke up that night at midnight and took another one. I woke up at 6am Friday and took another one. When I finally got out of bed at 8:30, I was sick. Spent the next 5 hours throwing up, dizzy and just plain not feeling good. I pulled up side effects from the pain meds and had them all except low blood pressure. I probably had that one, I just could not check my bp by myself. Not sure if I got sick because of the meds or because I took the 6am med without food. So, with the weekend approaching, called the doctor and got an ant-nausea medication. Took both Friday night and did well. So, half the time I have had no drugs and not been hurting too bad...maybe pain 2 out of 10.
I have an appt Tuesday to get it unwrapped and start moving things.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Recently B went to something called "Flying Eagles". It is a group of pilots that bring their small planes in and give the older kids a free ride - trying to get kids interested in flying. A friend took him, but here is one of the pictures she sent me.
This was not the plane that B went up in. He said the plane above had running water and a bathroom in the back. We will have to keep an eye out for the program next summer and take the younger boys too.
I am trying to be more intentional in getting the kids to help me cook. Recently for breakfast I made the bacon, B made the pancakes and Jbird made the eggs. They did it all without assistance.
Today I asked the boys if they wanted to help make cookies. They all jumped at the chance. When I said 'make cookies' all they wanted to do was get out the cookie cutters. I tried to tell them that you need special dough for cut out cookies, but they sure wanted to try.
Here is one of Jbird helping with the garlic bread for lunch...
My recent huckleberry picking adventure was not the norm, so I am told. I guess this year has been an amazing year so they are very plentiful. Between my friend and I, we picked about 2 1/2 gallons in just over an hour. Up here, huckleberries can go for 30-50 dollars a gallon, so all I could think of was a future side job for the boys. Other than getting into some tall bushes, it was pretty easy, quick work. As a child my friend spent lots of time in the fields working for money, so she knew all the tricks. We had a gallon jug with the top cut off and a string attached to it. So I tied it around my waist and was able to use both hands.
Here is just one of the buckets full.
I have them frozen. Been looking at recipes. The boys don't like them plain so I hesitate to make anything too big with them if they don't like it. But will probably end up with jam, syrup or huckleberry crisp.
This was not the plane that B went up in. He said the plane above had running water and a bathroom in the back. We will have to keep an eye out for the program next summer and take the younger boys too.
I am trying to be more intentional in getting the kids to help me cook. Recently for breakfast I made the bacon, B made the pancakes and Jbird made the eggs. They did it all without assistance.
Today I asked the boys if they wanted to help make cookies. They all jumped at the chance. When I said 'make cookies' all they wanted to do was get out the cookie cutters. I tried to tell them that you need special dough for cut out cookies, but they sure wanted to try.
Here is one of Jbird helping with the garlic bread for lunch...
My recent huckleberry picking adventure was not the norm, so I am told. I guess this year has been an amazing year so they are very plentiful. Between my friend and I, we picked about 2 1/2 gallons in just over an hour. Up here, huckleberries can go for 30-50 dollars a gallon, so all I could think of was a future side job for the boys. Other than getting into some tall bushes, it was pretty easy, quick work. As a child my friend spent lots of time in the fields working for money, so she knew all the tricks. We had a gallon jug with the top cut off and a string attached to it. So I tied it around my waist and was able to use both hands.
Here is just one of the buckets full.
I have them frozen. Been looking at recipes. The boys don't like them plain so I hesitate to make anything too big with them if they don't like it. But will probably end up with jam, syrup or huckleberry crisp.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
JR has been doing some side jobs and when he is able, he tries to take one of the boys. B is never really interested but Jbird always jumps at the chance. (JB would love to go, but he will have to wait another year or two.) Recently they went out to build fences.
He loved working the drill, but I think even more, he loved being with his dad!
He does not seem to mind manual labor...unless it is cleaning up at home :-)
Usually when JR tries to take one of the boys somewhere special, they all end up wanting to go. Here are pictures of one of their favorite places to go.
They can spend forever in Game Stop. I am glad my boys love to window shop and they always know going in that no money will be spent.
(This one is a little blurry..they are all taken with JR's cell phone)
One more picture. This is a picture of a chapel that is in the resort community where JR works. Just thought it was a neat picture.
Last week the boys did a VBS/soccer camp called "High Power Soccer". I am finding that more VBS's are including something 'more' for the older kids. They spent half their time doing the regular VBS stuff and the other half learning new soccer skills. The boys enjoyed it a lot and are looking forward to fall soccer starting up. B is wanting to try some basketball too.
At the end of Kindergarten J was reading decent. Yet over the summer he has not read much so lost some confidence. Last night though, he for the first time, read an entire book to JB at bedtime. I see the confidence building. B has also been doing some 'math homework' recently - 5 problems a day. He drags his feet, taking hours to sit down and focus without whining. The other day some of the teen age neighborhood boys were over playing basketball. They came inside and one of them was able to get through to B and it started clicking. Amazing how much is fogotten over the summer. This kid just had the teaching gene...maybe I could hire him as a tutor/motivation this school year.
I am always amazed how people often guess my age 5-8 years younger than I really am. So how is it that yesterday a lady asked if I was the boys' grandmother. This was a grandmother herself!
I head in for surgery in a bit....
He loved working the drill, but I think even more, he loved being with his dad!
He does not seem to mind manual labor...unless it is cleaning up at home :-)
Usually when JR tries to take one of the boys somewhere special, they all end up wanting to go. Here are pictures of one of their favorite places to go.
They can spend forever in Game Stop. I am glad my boys love to window shop and they always know going in that no money will be spent.
(This one is a little blurry..they are all taken with JR's cell phone)
One more picture. This is a picture of a chapel that is in the resort community where JR works. Just thought it was a neat picture.
Last week the boys did a VBS/soccer camp called "High Power Soccer". I am finding that more VBS's are including something 'more' for the older kids. They spent half their time doing the regular VBS stuff and the other half learning new soccer skills. The boys enjoyed it a lot and are looking forward to fall soccer starting up. B is wanting to try some basketball too.
At the end of Kindergarten J was reading decent. Yet over the summer he has not read much so lost some confidence. Last night though, he for the first time, read an entire book to JB at bedtime. I see the confidence building. B has also been doing some 'math homework' recently - 5 problems a day. He drags his feet, taking hours to sit down and focus without whining. The other day some of the teen age neighborhood boys were over playing basketball. They came inside and one of them was able to get through to B and it started clicking. Amazing how much is fogotten over the summer. This kid just had the teaching gene...maybe I could hire him as a tutor/motivation this school year.
I am always amazed how people often guess my age 5-8 years younger than I really am. So how is it that yesterday a lady asked if I was the boys' grandmother. This was a grandmother herself!
I head in for surgery in a bit....
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Eventful days always make me appreciate the mostly un-eventful days i have.
Today was an eventful day. (I will say up front, please overlook any typos, as you will soon understand).
I decided recently that I wanted to try to fun in a 5k (3 miles)race on Thanksgiving. So, better start training. Yesterday I walked/ran 2 miles in morning and 2 miles in evening. So this morning I started out again across the big field behind our house. I was not 2 minutes into the run, when I stumbled over a rock, could not regain my balance and went down. I imagine I looked like a baseball player sliding into home...arms and hands out stretched. When I stopped, I surveyed the damaged and realized my left ring finger was starting ot swell and oddly bent. I immediately picked myself up and headed back to the house with my hand elevated. I walked in the back door, told the boys I was going to Urgent Care and then left. I was at Urgent Care within 15 minutes.
They got me back fairly quickly. The PA came in, looked for a few minutes and walked out into the hall and loudly announced that an xray needs to be taken. They took me back. They carefullly took xrays. The technician took a look to make sure they came out. Then as we walked out of the room, she told me "it does not look pretty...just to warn you."
A spiral fracture or oblique fracture - are the two terms I heard. After a few minutes they told me they were going to send me to the hospital to see the surgeon on call. Then they changed plans and got me in to see an ortho this afternoon. (The PA was just amazing..making all the calls, doing paperwork, etc. I told him how much I appreciated him an dhe said he thinks so many in the field today forget what it is like to be the patient. He did not want me to sit in the ER for who knows how long and then maybe still get referred bakck to ortho.) They gave me a nerve block and then was able to reset my finger.
I went to the ortho and as the PA predicted...surgery. The fracture is very unstable so splinting will not fix the finger. I go in on Thurs at 1:30 for 'a few screws and maybe a plate'. Should be 3 hours from when I get out of the car until I get back in the car. The fingers will be immobilized 5 days, 10 at the latest. Then it is lots of movement and exercises. I have it splinted right now and as of yet, have not had to take any pain meds. Tomorrow might be a different story.
Surprisingly, this whole ordeal has not bummed me out at all. Instead, I have been filled with lots of thankfulness.
Thankful that I did not have on my wedding ring (it would have certainly turned finger blue and had to be cut off, not to mention how much worse break could have been)
Thankful that it is the left hand and not my dominant right hand.
Thankful I was only 200 yards from the house and not at the end of the field, a mile away
Thankful it was dirt and not road - where I could have dealt with more road rash.
Thankful that it was only a finger and not a wrist, elbow, shoulder, knee or hip - I am not too impaired with just a finger.
Thankful that I will meet my $3,000 deductible only 2 months into my calendar year (if anything else happens over the next 10 months...covered!)
After I got home from Urgent Care my shoulder started to get stiff...the shoulder where I was hainvg AC joint issues that my chiro worked on 2 weeks ago. Thankful that I see him on Tuesdays (today). After my ortho appt i stopped by there and sure enough, I jammed up my left shoulder when I fell...he worked it again and told me the importance of keeping it moving and exercises.
I texted my sister throughout the ordeal and she told me I have never been the most coordinated runner. I told her i chased a tennis ball around for years and did pretty good. Then I got to thinking about it. When I was in 4th grade I was racing a girl and tripped and fell, breaking my collar bone. When I was 8 months pregnant with B, I was running up stairs and tripped and broke my wrist. So this is my third running injury.....and obviously the worst to date.
The next few days for me will probably be pretty quiet..maybe lots of books and movies..hopefully boys pulling some of the weight.
So just for my personal record, I have put some pictures below, not too graphic, but if you don't like stuff like that, don't scroll any further down.
I could not get the xray photo to enlarge much without being too grainy...but the break can be seen on the left slide, just above the knuckle angled from right down to left. This is before they did a reduction/reset the finger.
This is one I snapped as I was heading out the door to Urgent Care. You can see the ackward bend just above the knuckle. They were able to straighten it enough that it did not look obviously deformed.
Today was an eventful day. (I will say up front, please overlook any typos, as you will soon understand).
I decided recently that I wanted to try to fun in a 5k (3 miles)race on Thanksgiving. So, better start training. Yesterday I walked/ran 2 miles in morning and 2 miles in evening. So this morning I started out again across the big field behind our house. I was not 2 minutes into the run, when I stumbled over a rock, could not regain my balance and went down. I imagine I looked like a baseball player sliding into home...arms and hands out stretched. When I stopped, I surveyed the damaged and realized my left ring finger was starting ot swell and oddly bent. I immediately picked myself up and headed back to the house with my hand elevated. I walked in the back door, told the boys I was going to Urgent Care and then left. I was at Urgent Care within 15 minutes.
They got me back fairly quickly. The PA came in, looked for a few minutes and walked out into the hall and loudly announced that an xray needs to be taken. They took me back. They carefullly took xrays. The technician took a look to make sure they came out. Then as we walked out of the room, she told me "it does not look pretty...just to warn you."
A spiral fracture or oblique fracture - are the two terms I heard. After a few minutes they told me they were going to send me to the hospital to see the surgeon on call. Then they changed plans and got me in to see an ortho this afternoon. (The PA was just amazing..making all the calls, doing paperwork, etc. I told him how much I appreciated him an dhe said he thinks so many in the field today forget what it is like to be the patient. He did not want me to sit in the ER for who knows how long and then maybe still get referred bakck to ortho.) They gave me a nerve block and then was able to reset my finger.
I went to the ortho and as the PA predicted...surgery. The fracture is very unstable so splinting will not fix the finger. I go in on Thurs at 1:30 for 'a few screws and maybe a plate'. Should be 3 hours from when I get out of the car until I get back in the car. The fingers will be immobilized 5 days, 10 at the latest. Then it is lots of movement and exercises. I have it splinted right now and as of yet, have not had to take any pain meds. Tomorrow might be a different story.
Surprisingly, this whole ordeal has not bummed me out at all. Instead, I have been filled with lots of thankfulness.
Thankful that I did not have on my wedding ring (it would have certainly turned finger blue and had to be cut off, not to mention how much worse break could have been)
Thankful that it is the left hand and not my dominant right hand.
Thankful I was only 200 yards from the house and not at the end of the field, a mile away
Thankful it was dirt and not road - where I could have dealt with more road rash.
Thankful that it was only a finger and not a wrist, elbow, shoulder, knee or hip - I am not too impaired with just a finger.
Thankful that I will meet my $3,000 deductible only 2 months into my calendar year (if anything else happens over the next 10 months...covered!)
After I got home from Urgent Care my shoulder started to get stiff...the shoulder where I was hainvg AC joint issues that my chiro worked on 2 weeks ago. Thankful that I see him on Tuesdays (today). After my ortho appt i stopped by there and sure enough, I jammed up my left shoulder when I fell...he worked it again and told me the importance of keeping it moving and exercises.
I texted my sister throughout the ordeal and she told me I have never been the most coordinated runner. I told her i chased a tennis ball around for years and did pretty good. Then I got to thinking about it. When I was in 4th grade I was racing a girl and tripped and fell, breaking my collar bone. When I was 8 months pregnant with B, I was running up stairs and tripped and broke my wrist. So this is my third running injury.....and obviously the worst to date.
The next few days for me will probably be pretty quiet..maybe lots of books and movies..hopefully boys pulling some of the weight.
So just for my personal record, I have put some pictures below, not too graphic, but if you don't like stuff like that, don't scroll any further down.
I could not get the xray photo to enlarge much without being too grainy...but the break can be seen on the left slide, just above the knuckle angled from right down to left. This is before they did a reduction/reset the finger.
This is one I snapped as I was heading out the door to Urgent Care. You can see the ackward bend just above the knuckle. They were able to straighten it enough that it did not look obviously deformed.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Another recent outing to the BMX track....
As the older boys ride around, JB loves to run around the track, which is actually a pretty good workout with all the ups and downs.
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Jbird has found a new talent....catching flies. I know, not the most sanitary thing, but he sure is proud of himself every time he gets one!
One day recently I was at the airport working for a bit. The boys called me to tell me that the screen had fallen out of the down stairs window. Upon returning home, seems that one of the boys was standing on the windowsill, opened the window and leaned into the screen. The screen of course fell out and seems the child fell out too. Fortunately it was only about a 4 foot drop and he was able to land on his feet. Whenever I leave them alone, I tell them no phone and no door. Now I have to add no windows to that list! So thankful for God's hedge of protection!
As the older boys ride around, JB loves to run around the track, which is actually a pretty good workout with all the ups and downs.
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Jbird has found a new talent....catching flies. I know, not the most sanitary thing, but he sure is proud of himself every time he gets one!
One day recently I was at the airport working for a bit. The boys called me to tell me that the screen had fallen out of the down stairs window. Upon returning home, seems that one of the boys was standing on the windowsill, opened the window and leaned into the screen. The screen of course fell out and seems the child fell out too. Fortunately it was only about a 4 foot drop and he was able to land on his feet. Whenever I leave them alone, I tell them no phone and no door. Now I have to add no windows to that list! So thankful for God's hedge of protection!
Sunday, August 11, 2013
A quick warning....
I was working on some future blog posts. I pulled up the actual blog and saw that there are a few random words in some posts that are in blue and double underlined. Please do not click on these. I am trying to figure out the issue. I think it has something to do with an add-on that has attached itself to one of my programs.
Friday, August 9, 2013
So, I thought I set this to post this past Wednesday, on the 7th but just realized it never posted...argh!
Guess who has a birthday today (Wednesday)......
Happy 4th birthday! (Before pre-school got out in May, they celebrated his "summer" birthday, so poor kid has been waiting a long time for his actual birthday).
I love how in the mornings as you are waking up, if you see me walk into your room, you will roll over and wait for me to scratch your back. How you quietly wait for one of us to pick you up and carry you downstairs.
For some reason, you have given up on napkins and just prefer to wipe your hands on top of your head.
You are working so hard on wheelies on your bike - anything your brothers do, you try to do better. You hang with them when they are wrestling, shooting baskets, running through the field...you name it and you are trying it.
You are rocking therapy. You can now string 15-20 words along - I am not always sure what you are saying, but you do. You have one of the best work ethics of any (now) 4 year old I have ever seen.
Here is a picture that he drew at therapy recently. The therapist was totally shocked. Before we left on vacation he could not do it and it had her pretty concerned. Once again you pull through Buddy and surprise us all!
When we were in Ohio my niece (who is special ed major) noticed that he always drew his faces upside down. In the past he has not been able to put body parts where they are suppose to go.
The kids wanted to do VBS this week, so we celebrated his birthday (a day early) with a few friends at McD's. It was chaos. There was a family of four that came in...2 kids, a woman who was either an 'older' mom or grandma and then this lady's mother. They eventually left the play area because it was too loud. I almost thought they were irritated with us, but hey, they were sitting in the play area (although they were being very loud and we did have a few kids with very high pitched screams.)
The night before I set out to make a birthday cake. Turns out the box mix I had in the pantry was brownies and not cake. So, opted for brownies. Figured it would be less of a mess anyway - as brownies normally don't crumble. I made it in a 9 in round pan. He wanted a batman cake but the creativity was not really flowing. So, I printed off a batman symbol, laid it on the 'cake' and then sprinkled powder sugar around the symbol. The middle of the cake was the black symbol and everything else was white. It looked pretty cool. At McD's I gave the camera to B. I asked him to take pictures. He was trying to get a picture of the cake, but because he is not real tall, he could not get a great view. So he asked me to tilt the cake up, I did. He asked me to tilt it up again, I did. He asked me to tilt it up again, I did. At that point, the round little cake slid off the plate, hit the chair and then proceeded to roll around the playland floor like a tire. It was hilarious! I ran after the 'cake' and managed to grab it before someone stepped on it and before it landed flat on the ground. I looked at the other mom that was there with me and we both decided it was fine to cut off the edges. It tasted yummy and no one knew the difference.
This was after the roll around the floor!
The boys are at VBS this morning and I am going to pick huckleberries with a friend!
Guess who has a birthday today (Wednesday)......
Happy 4th birthday! (Before pre-school got out in May, they celebrated his "summer" birthday, so poor kid has been waiting a long time for his actual birthday).
I love how in the mornings as you are waking up, if you see me walk into your room, you will roll over and wait for me to scratch your back. How you quietly wait for one of us to pick you up and carry you downstairs.
For some reason, you have given up on napkins and just prefer to wipe your hands on top of your head.
You are working so hard on wheelies on your bike - anything your brothers do, you try to do better. You hang with them when they are wrestling, shooting baskets, running through the field...you name it and you are trying it.
You are rocking therapy. You can now string 15-20 words along - I am not always sure what you are saying, but you do. You have one of the best work ethics of any (now) 4 year old I have ever seen.
Here is a picture that he drew at therapy recently. The therapist was totally shocked. Before we left on vacation he could not do it and it had her pretty concerned. Once again you pull through Buddy and surprise us all!
When we were in Ohio my niece (who is special ed major) noticed that he always drew his faces upside down. In the past he has not been able to put body parts where they are suppose to go.
The kids wanted to do VBS this week, so we celebrated his birthday (a day early) with a few friends at McD's. It was chaos. There was a family of four that came in...2 kids, a woman who was either an 'older' mom or grandma and then this lady's mother. They eventually left the play area because it was too loud. I almost thought they were irritated with us, but hey, they were sitting in the play area (although they were being very loud and we did have a few kids with very high pitched screams.)
The night before I set out to make a birthday cake. Turns out the box mix I had in the pantry was brownies and not cake. So, opted for brownies. Figured it would be less of a mess anyway - as brownies normally don't crumble. I made it in a 9 in round pan. He wanted a batman cake but the creativity was not really flowing. So, I printed off a batman symbol, laid it on the 'cake' and then sprinkled powder sugar around the symbol. The middle of the cake was the black symbol and everything else was white. It looked pretty cool. At McD's I gave the camera to B. I asked him to take pictures. He was trying to get a picture of the cake, but because he is not real tall, he could not get a great view. So he asked me to tilt the cake up, I did. He asked me to tilt it up again, I did. He asked me to tilt it up again, I did. At that point, the round little cake slid off the plate, hit the chair and then proceeded to roll around the playland floor like a tire. It was hilarious! I ran after the 'cake' and managed to grab it before someone stepped on it and before it landed flat on the ground. I looked at the other mom that was there with me and we both decided it was fine to cut off the edges. It tasted yummy and no one knew the difference.
This was after the roll around the floor!
The boys are at VBS this morning and I am going to pick huckleberries with a friend!
Sunday, August 4, 2013
B had a blast at camp. They had a climbing wall, rotating climbing wall that could turn at angles, archery range, BB gun range, boating, camp fire programs, super good skits, geocaching, first aid, geology, forest rangers and ready men - although he forgot what ready men are. He has been telling me about all the skits they did. (The kid has a memory and does not forget a word of the skits.)
He came back dirty..they did not have showers there. He even came back with money left over. He bought a really cool pocket knife.
The other two boys had fun...they fished, played baseball, watched a movie and had the latest campfire of anyone!
This evening, we had a big party. It was to celebrate our church sending off a family to the mission field and our church celebrating what God has done over the last 8 years. (Ironically, the church I use to attend in North Dakota celebrated 125 years this weekend and my current church celebrated the end of 8 years.)
The family that hosted the party lives in the country and made a 100 foot plus slip n slide. Here are some pictures....
Here is Jbird...you get a sense of the length of it
Here is a little bump they made so the kids could catch air.
Here is B, see all the mud just to right of the slide that the kids would sometimes end up in.
This is the full length...top to bottom.
Then they jumped on the trampoline...not a bad view for jumping.
A great evening celebrated with some very special people.
Off to bed...tomorrow starts a busy, fun week with Vacation Bible School and lots of play dates with friends!
He came back dirty..they did not have showers there. He even came back with money left over. He bought a really cool pocket knife.
The other two boys had fun...they fished, played baseball, watched a movie and had the latest campfire of anyone!
This evening, we had a big party. It was to celebrate our church sending off a family to the mission field and our church celebrating what God has done over the last 8 years. (Ironically, the church I use to attend in North Dakota celebrated 125 years this weekend and my current church celebrated the end of 8 years.)
The family that hosted the party lives in the country and made a 100 foot plus slip n slide. Here are some pictures....
Here is Jbird...you get a sense of the length of it
Here is a little bump they made so the kids could catch air.
Here is B, see all the mud just to right of the slide that the kids would sometimes end up in.
This is the full length...top to bottom.
Then they jumped on the trampoline...not a bad view for jumping.
A great evening celebrated with some very special people.
Off to bed...tomorrow starts a busy, fun week with Vacation Bible School and lots of play dates with friends!
Friday, August 2, 2013
This kiddo left today for his 2 night over-nighter.....
(Just last night I was looking at lots of pictures and amazing how much older he looks since November...his longer hair really makes him look older)
Why is this always his 'dafault' pose when I pull out the camera.....silly boy (he does it well though)
He was so excited, he had a hard time sleeping. He wanted to take his book and drawing supplies and I assured him he would not get bored on the van or at camp.
Last night we had a huge hail storm. Some of the pictures posted on facebook are crazy of the clouds. It hailed for 20 minutes. It is coming down.
The hail was bouncing back up as it hit the ground.
The boys got on bicycle helmets, gloves and sweatshirts and went out there. Unfortunately, it took them so long to get dressed they missed most of the hail. But sure found out how it can hurt. Fortunately there was no damage that we know of, except leaves every where.
JR and the other two boys are leaving tomorrow for overnight camping. I get some down time. I have to work some (there are 3 families expecting their rental vehicles at noon....one of those vehicles is getting dropped off at 11:30, the second vehicle's party is departing at 1:30 and the third party departing at 2). Not sure how I am suppose to have all vehicles ready by noon.
Off to read books to the boys.
(Just last night I was looking at lots of pictures and amazing how much older he looks since November...his longer hair really makes him look older)
Why is this always his 'dafault' pose when I pull out the camera.....silly boy (he does it well though)
He was so excited, he had a hard time sleeping. He wanted to take his book and drawing supplies and I assured him he would not get bored on the van or at camp.
Last night we had a huge hail storm. Some of the pictures posted on facebook are crazy of the clouds. It hailed for 20 minutes. It is coming down.
The hail was bouncing back up as it hit the ground.
The boys got on bicycle helmets, gloves and sweatshirts and went out there. Unfortunately, it took them so long to get dressed they missed most of the hail. But sure found out how it can hurt. Fortunately there was no damage that we know of, except leaves every where.
JR and the other two boys are leaving tomorrow for overnight camping. I get some down time. I have to work some (there are 3 families expecting their rental vehicles at noon....one of those vehicles is getting dropped off at 11:30, the second vehicle's party is departing at 1:30 and the third party departing at 2). Not sure how I am suppose to have all vehicles ready by noon.
Off to read books to the boys.
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