July was hectic to say the least. Every day there was something going on with Joey and during the week of the 12th it was two things every day. It was tiring and I'm glad it's over, but I miss it too. I'm sad that we've only got a month and a few days before school starts and my life changes forever. It will never be the same once Joey starts all day kindergarten.
In a couple weeks I'm going to have to start getting up about the same time as hubby leaves for work in the morning, 5-5:30am. At that time I can have some quiet time to myself, shower and get dressed for the day. Make Joey's lunch and start breakfast for the boys. Get Joey up by 6:30am, fed, showered and dressed. The other boys up around the same time and at least diapers changed and get them dressed appropriately for taking Joey to school. They can eat with Joey or when we get home, doesn't really matter.
Joey's dropped off at school before 8am then we come home. My time now to clean, do laundry, get the kids dressed that aren't already, get Josh ready for school, serve lunch, get Josh on the bus. Wednesdays Josh is home all day and Joey is home at 11:30am or 2pm depending on school's schedule. Tuesday we have PT for Jackson, Thursdays ST for Jon and Jackson. Friday morning grandma comes to care for Jackson and Josh in the morning while Jon and I go to Mommy and Me preschool. Joey is then picked up at 3pm and Josh gets home, on the bus, at some time around 3:20pm I'm guessing.
The days that my bff has to work I will also be bringing her daughter home with me so I'll have 5 kids for awhile. On Tuesdays she's going to come home with me and then she and Joey will be going to swimming class. Wednesdays though September only I have a class from 3:30pm-5pm. I don't have a clue how that's going to work? Joey wants to play soccer again this fall. Gotta find him a team (probably the YMCA).
I'm just exhausted thinking about it all and yet excited to have a schedule to run my life. I'm praying that this schedule will be only for the good for all of us.
Until then we just have to enjoy the great weather when we can. I'm not complaining, I love the heat over cold any day. However, the humidity here has been atrocious. The kids are red and sweaty after only 15-30mins of play some days. I can't breath outside! LOL I am not looking forward to winter. I think the driving the kids to and from school in the winter is going to be a nightmare but I am looking for a slight cool down, at least in the humidity.
At Jackson's 9 month well baby check up he was .... 13lbs 8oz and 25" long. I have a very old 4 month old! He's healthy though, just needs to bulk up the weight and we're using solids (no teeth) to do that. Poly-Vi-Sol with Iron too, she's sure he's anemic. Nothing serious though thank you God.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Preschool and glasses!!!!
I just have to start with an OMG... what a week and it's only Tuesday!!!
Yesterday morning was nothing but then at 12:30pm I had to pick up BFF's daughter and take her and Joey to safety school by 1pm. Came home then picked up Joey and Kasia at 3pm. Stopped at Walmart to price check SpaceBags then home. Got Kasia ready for ballet and dropped her off there at 4pm. Came home, searched high and low for Joey's T-ball tee shirt then got him dinner and to T-ball before 6pm. Met up with BFF and Kasia, kept Kasia while Bff went to Pilates. Watched Joey's T-ball game then BFF picked up Kasia and we went home. Got the kids into bed and I read a couple chapters before falling asleep about 9:30pm.
Jim woke me this morning to tell me he was leaving early so the kids won't hear him and wake up, so I can sleep in. I couldn't sleep in though, had to get up and get out the door before 8am as Joey had school. Jon woke up under the weather so I gave him some Motrin since I don't have time for a sick kid and proceeded to vomit it as he was going to the table to eat breakfast! Got Joey to school about a minute late. Lucky for me the principal and another teacher?? were still out there waiting on stragglers so I didn't have to get everyone out of the car and walk him in. I got home after dropping him off and cleaned up the house a little. Bff got here at 9:20, I finished cleaning some then took Jon and Josh to pick up Joey and the 3 of us went to the evaluation for Josh. He has a speech articulation problem and I was getting him tested for speech therapy. After the initial interview I was told his bad behavior might not just be terrible 2's and horrible 3's so they brought in the school psychologist too.Turns out he is a very bright little boy (figured he was probably bored and NEEDED school for stimulation!) His speech tested within normal limits for his age but his articulation was delayed. The ST who did the eval was Joey's ST when he was in Early Childhood. She said it's funny how all Josh's artic problems are the same ones that Joey had. I had told them that initially, that he picked up Joey's bad habits and wasn't correcting. While he was working with the ST and EC specialists I went off with the school psychologist and discussed his behavior issues. Turns out his behavior is NOT normal 2-3yr old stuff and more than qualified him for the EC program. This is GREAT news because now he can go to school 4 days a week and get help in dealing with his anger/behavior issues instead of me sending him to private preschool that won't tolerate his behavior and is only 2 days a week. One major issue though is it's the afternoon class and he's out of school at 3pm (so is Joey!) Great thing is the school he's going to has an integrated 4K program so if he still needs services next year he can go to their 4K program AND get the services he needs. If he only needs speech then they can do that at what will be his regular school in their 4K program!
After the evaluation I was supposed to pick up BFF, Kasia and Jackson and take Joey to get his glasses. However, the eval took two hours instead of one so we didn't have time for that. We all got lunch then dropped Joey and Kasia off at Safety school. I went home, let Jon nap until we had to pile back into the car to pick up Joey. After getting Joey we went up to pick up his glasses!!
OMG he's so happy and so excited about them. As soon as we got into the place he went up to these two older ladies who were customers sitting with a sales person and told them all that he was there to pick up his glasses! LOL Here he is trying them on... Josh is tired, I had to wake him to bring him in with us.
Yesterday morning was nothing but then at 12:30pm I had to pick up BFF's daughter and take her and Joey to safety school by 1pm. Came home then picked up Joey and Kasia at 3pm. Stopped at Walmart to price check SpaceBags then home. Got Kasia ready for ballet and dropped her off there at 4pm. Came home, searched high and low for Joey's T-ball tee shirt then got him dinner and to T-ball before 6pm. Met up with BFF and Kasia, kept Kasia while Bff went to Pilates. Watched Joey's T-ball game then BFF picked up Kasia and we went home. Got the kids into bed and I read a couple chapters before falling asleep about 9:30pm.
Jim woke me this morning to tell me he was leaving early so the kids won't hear him and wake up, so I can sleep in. I couldn't sleep in though, had to get up and get out the door before 8am as Joey had school. Jon woke up under the weather so I gave him some Motrin since I don't have time for a sick kid and proceeded to vomit it as he was going to the table to eat breakfast! Got Joey to school about a minute late. Lucky for me the principal and another teacher?? were still out there waiting on stragglers so I didn't have to get everyone out of the car and walk him in. I got home after dropping him off and cleaned up the house a little. Bff got here at 9:20, I finished cleaning some then took Jon and Josh to pick up Joey and the 3 of us went to the evaluation for Josh. He has a speech articulation problem and I was getting him tested for speech therapy. After the initial interview I was told his bad behavior might not just be terrible 2's and horrible 3's so they brought in the school psychologist too.Turns out he is a very bright little boy (figured he was probably bored and NEEDED school for stimulation!) His speech tested within normal limits for his age but his articulation was delayed. The ST who did the eval was Joey's ST when he was in Early Childhood. She said it's funny how all Josh's artic problems are the same ones that Joey had. I had told them that initially, that he picked up Joey's bad habits and wasn't correcting. While he was working with the ST and EC specialists I went off with the school psychologist and discussed his behavior issues. Turns out his behavior is NOT normal 2-3yr old stuff and more than qualified him for the EC program. This is GREAT news because now he can go to school 4 days a week and get help in dealing with his anger/behavior issues instead of me sending him to private preschool that won't tolerate his behavior and is only 2 days a week. One major issue though is it's the afternoon class and he's out of school at 3pm (so is Joey!) Great thing is the school he's going to has an integrated 4K program so if he still needs services next year he can go to their 4K program AND get the services he needs. If he only needs speech then they can do that at what will be his regular school in their 4K program!
After the evaluation I was supposed to pick up BFF, Kasia and Jackson and take Joey to get his glasses. However, the eval took two hours instead of one so we didn't have time for that. We all got lunch then dropped Joey and Kasia off at Safety school. I went home, let Jon nap until we had to pile back into the car to pick up Joey. After getting Joey we went up to pick up his glasses!!
OMG he's so happy and so excited about them. As soon as we got into the place he went up to these two older ladies who were customers sitting with a sales person and told them all that he was there to pick up his glasses! LOL Here he is trying them on... Josh is tired, I had to wake him to bring him in with us.
So proud of my big guy!!
So tired after his very long couple of days!!!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Inadvertent trouble
Joey and Josh are by far my biggest climbers. They have no fear. Ok, well Joshy does until he's comfortable with his surrounds and/or ability then he's fearless. One of their worst things right now is the back yard. We have a 6' privacy fence around all of it except for the deck area. They started to squeeze though the posts on the deck (Bosco was too!) so I used screen and wove it around the posts. That worked just fine until this year. they started to pull the screen off and we used plywood and just nailed it up. No squeezing though a solid piece of plywood! Then, since that was now useless to fight they got really brave. The opposite end of the deck has a bench seat built into it. They climb onto the bench and just climb over the railing using the bench for footing, then the deck floor is the next step then the landscaping is freedom! It's a major PITA and daddy needs to rig something up to put a stop to it...
Today things went really wrong. I went outside and yelled for Joshy to get back inside the yard. He starts climbing up the deck, gets to the bench seat and is screaming, holding on for dear life and trying to protect his face... yelling at the bugs to leave him alone. I take a closer look and he's being swarmed by wasps! I surmise from him that he was stung in or on the eye and it's hurting him unbelievably. I run over to him and with all my adrenaline lift him over and away from the wasps. Yell for Jim to grab Jon and get him into the house as well. I noticed at some point they had a nest above my bedroom window on the soffit.
Now I'm scared. Did they get him in the eye or just on it and even on it, is it dangerous? Do I need to take him into the hospital (it's 6pm) or do I just call the on call pediatrician? I finally get him to let me look and see a mark on the middle of his eyelid and it's starting to swell. Jim got me some ice and a cold wet rag and I get Josh to put that on his eye while I call the pedi. He tells me no need to take him in, nothing they can do that I can't at home. Give him Benedryl for the swelling/reaction, Tylenol or Motrin for the pain and cold compress. He said it will swell up big and fast then go down fast too.
It did swell for sure but not as big as I'd feared it would. He could still open and use his eye thank God! I think he got stung on the forearm as well. He said it hurt and there was a mark there just like the one on his eye but it didn't swell at all. He took his medicine well and held that ice on for a good long while. Now I hope after a good nights sleep he will be good as new in the morning.
That's the worse it got all night. I sure hope it's not swollen shut in the morning or anything!
Today things went really wrong. I went outside and yelled for Joshy to get back inside the yard. He starts climbing up the deck, gets to the bench seat and is screaming, holding on for dear life and trying to protect his face... yelling at the bugs to leave him alone. I take a closer look and he's being swarmed by wasps! I surmise from him that he was stung in or on the eye and it's hurting him unbelievably. I run over to him and with all my adrenaline lift him over and away from the wasps. Yell for Jim to grab Jon and get him into the house as well. I noticed at some point they had a nest above my bedroom window on the soffit.
Now I'm scared. Did they get him in the eye or just on it and even on it, is it dangerous? Do I need to take him into the hospital (it's 6pm) or do I just call the on call pediatrician? I finally get him to let me look and see a mark on the middle of his eyelid and it's starting to swell. Jim got me some ice and a cold wet rag and I get Josh to put that on his eye while I call the pedi. He tells me no need to take him in, nothing they can do that I can't at home. Give him Benedryl for the swelling/reaction, Tylenol or Motrin for the pain and cold compress. He said it will swell up big and fast then go down fast too.
It did swell for sure but not as big as I'd feared it would. He could still open and use his eye thank God! I think he got stung on the forearm as well. He said it hurt and there was a mark there just like the one on his eye but it didn't swell at all. He took his medicine well and held that ice on for a good long while. Now I hope after a good nights sleep he will be good as new in the morning.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
4th of July
We don't usually do a whole lot for the 4th. Having a husband with PTSD as severe as Jim's is makes it difficult to enjoy. This year however I got the kids some Pop-its (those things you throw on the ground and they make a noise) Jim said they didn't bother him and the 3 older boys LOVED them! I got them some sparklers too but we've not broken them out yet (7/7) as they've been in bed way before dark!! I also took Joey to the fireworks display here in town. I was going to take Joshy as well but that one fell asleep on the couch around 6:30 and slept though the night.
Joey and I had a great time. The trolley is free and it takes you down to the beach. They light the fireworks over Lake Michigan. We missed the trolley, waited around for a bit then started walking. The trolley caught up to us just as we got to the park we were going to sit at to view the fireworks! Joey was so excited about the trolley that he opted to stop sitting and walk to the trolley so we wouldn't miss it. The driver was nice enough to let us watch the display from inside the trolley so we had great seats and no rush.
The idiots in his town just amaze me. Getting the trolley to actually move on the track was ridiculous as the people were pulling out in front of it, stopping on the tracks. It was just, RIDICULOUS, that's the best I can come up with.
All in all we had a good time and I'm looking forward to taking Joshy with us next year. This will be a mommy and the boys thing unless and until Jim can handle it and join us.
Joey and I had a great time. The trolley is free and it takes you down to the beach. They light the fireworks over Lake Michigan. We missed the trolley, waited around for a bit then started walking. The trolley caught up to us just as we got to the park we were going to sit at to view the fireworks! Joey was so excited about the trolley that he opted to stop sitting and walk to the trolley so we wouldn't miss it. The driver was nice enough to let us watch the display from inside the trolley so we had great seats and no rush.
The idiots in his town just amaze me. Getting the trolley to actually move on the track was ridiculous as the people were pulling out in front of it, stopping on the tracks. It was just, RIDICULOUS, that's the best I can come up with.
All in all we had a good time and I'm looking forward to taking Joshy with us next year. This will be a mommy and the boys thing unless and until Jim can handle it and join us.
Miscellaneous pictures
Daddy in his usual position when he's home. I think Joey "caught him here!"
Jonny loves to be on top of the camera to get his picture taken
Joshy being the baby. He loved these type of things when he was a baby. Guess he's not grown up yet LOL
No mommy, don't take my picture, take ME! That's what my baby looks like every time he sees me and isn't in my arms already!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Bittersweet, always confusing
My day actually started yesterday. I couldn't remember if it was June 30 or July 1st. I didn't want to get up if it was July 1st. I was so relieved when it was June 30 but then spent the day not wanting the day to end. July 1st was my Auntie Patty's birthday and she's not here this year to celebrate her 70th. As I was driving home tonight I couldn't stop thinking about her because I was driving home from close to where she'd lived. I started to talk to her about just everything I was thinking. How grateful I am that she's in peace and no longer in pain. How angry I am that she was taken from us way too soon. I don't regret (as if I had a choice) that she got sick. Her getting sick made my mom get off her rear and get her skin cancer treated finally. Her illness got me and her granddaughter back on the right track together again. We'd not spoken for a number of years but now we're good and I thank Patty and God for that! I just wish beyond any hope that she'd gotten sick then healed!! You know?!
I truly think about her every single day. I never would have thought I would. It amazes me how much I think about her and thought about her and didn't realize it. I took for granted that she was here. I now notice how much I thought about her as she's no longer with us and it hurts so much. She could be a pain in the ass with her opinions on things but you know, at some point, eventually, I think she was right about everything! She was always giving her unsolicited advice to me and as much as I may not have wanted to hear it I always knew it was with and because of love! I miss her love. I was telling her too that I wish I had the faith to really believe that she knew herself, her past, her loved ones and was watching us and knowing how much she was loved and missed. That one day we all will be reunited again with each other and Jesus. I have faith in being with Jesus, I don't have faith that I'll "know" who I was and who you were to me. I so want to believe we are in peace with loved ones in heaven.
The other part of my bittersweet. I took Joey into the eye doctor tonight as he'd been complaining about not being able to see at a distance. I had the pediatrician check him out at his 5yr old well check and we couldn't tell if he couldn't see or just didn't test well. (see previous Eye Sight post)
My friend Kela referred us to America's Best. I think it's new to our area. I found a place up in Oak Creek. I was a little leery about how they'd do taking care of kids but was assured by Kela whom lives in SC and our friend Nikki from CO that they took care of a lot of kids and were good. They have awesome prices which is why I wanted to go there. We have vision insurance on Jim and I only. Who would have thought we'd need it for the kids so soon?! I sure didn't so I saved us a measly few bucks to not add the kids onto it. What a mistake!!
So, my decision was I'd take him to this place for now and then in January when I get him onto the vision plan I'll take him to a pedi ophthalmologist to get a recheck. Turns out that Joey has a moderate astigmatism. This optometrist was very nice and really made me feel better about taking him to her. She told me he can see but he's blurry with the astigmatism. I can get him glasses or wait it out but either way I should probably take him in to a pedi ophthalmologist to get it double checked since they have tests that she doesn't! She believes what Joey told her and that he did a decent job with my help but being only 5yrs old they'd have better equipment to get a more concrete "diagnosis" on him. I told her about the insurance issue and asked if I got him the glasses now is it ok to wait until January to get him into the ophthalmologist? She said absolutely. I don't "have" to get him glasses now even since he can see but she'd advise it and if the ophthalmologist give him a different prescription then we can just change his lenses and it would fall under the warranty so it would be free!
So that is what we did. He got 2 pairs of glasses plus the extended warranty on them for $84.95 and the exam was free! I don't remember exactly what she said but I think he's got 40/20 vision in one eye and 60/20 vision in the other and both are correctable to 20/20 with the glasses. He will need to wear the glasses all the time. He picked them both out with my help of course. He got one "nice" pair and one "fun" pair. He looks adorable in them both! He was excited to get them... I hope that carries over into wearing them as well. LOL
The bittersweet part is while glasses are by no means the end of the world, it's just another thing for kids at school to use to pick with. I am such a basket case not wanting my boys to experience the childhood I did with all the bullies I went to school with. I work so hard to keep them thin without making food an issue. I do NOT want them a part of the clean plate club. No one in my family who is a part of the clean plate club is thin! I want them to be able to walk away from food but at the same time it's so hard to get toddlers and preschoolers to eat anything. *sigh* At the same time, just one more thing for me to worry about. Where are they, are they safe. Keeping the younger boys from destroying them is going to be the end of me. I'm going to have to break some butts the first time they even attempt to abuse Joey's glasses.
I think, Auntie Patty would have some good advice for me or some calm reassuring words. I wish I could her them, whatever they are.
His glasses will be in in about 7-10 business days. They will call ... I will post pictures :)
I love you Auntie Patty, miss you every day.
I love you Joey, you are such a big boy and so darn cute in the glasses you picked out!!!
I truly think about her every single day. I never would have thought I would. It amazes me how much I think about her and thought about her and didn't realize it. I took for granted that she was here. I now notice how much I thought about her as she's no longer with us and it hurts so much. She could be a pain in the ass with her opinions on things but you know, at some point, eventually, I think she was right about everything! She was always giving her unsolicited advice to me and as much as I may not have wanted to hear it I always knew it was with and because of love! I miss her love. I was telling her too that I wish I had the faith to really believe that she knew herself, her past, her loved ones and was watching us and knowing how much she was loved and missed. That one day we all will be reunited again with each other and Jesus. I have faith in being with Jesus, I don't have faith that I'll "know" who I was and who you were to me. I so want to believe we are in peace with loved ones in heaven.
The other part of my bittersweet. I took Joey into the eye doctor tonight as he'd been complaining about not being able to see at a distance. I had the pediatrician check him out at his 5yr old well check and we couldn't tell if he couldn't see or just didn't test well. (see previous Eye Sight post)
My friend Kela referred us to America's Best. I think it's new to our area. I found a place up in Oak Creek. I was a little leery about how they'd do taking care of kids but was assured by Kela whom lives in SC and our friend Nikki from CO that they took care of a lot of kids and were good. They have awesome prices which is why I wanted to go there. We have vision insurance on Jim and I only. Who would have thought we'd need it for the kids so soon?! I sure didn't so I saved us a measly few bucks to not add the kids onto it. What a mistake!!
So, my decision was I'd take him to this place for now and then in January when I get him onto the vision plan I'll take him to a pedi ophthalmologist to get a recheck. Turns out that Joey has a moderate astigmatism. This optometrist was very nice and really made me feel better about taking him to her. She told me he can see but he's blurry with the astigmatism. I can get him glasses or wait it out but either way I should probably take him in to a pedi ophthalmologist to get it double checked since they have tests that she doesn't! She believes what Joey told her and that he did a decent job with my help but being only 5yrs old they'd have better equipment to get a more concrete "diagnosis" on him. I told her about the insurance issue and asked if I got him the glasses now is it ok to wait until January to get him into the ophthalmologist? She said absolutely. I don't "have" to get him glasses now even since he can see but she'd advise it and if the ophthalmologist give him a different prescription then we can just change his lenses and it would fall under the warranty so it would be free!
So that is what we did. He got 2 pairs of glasses plus the extended warranty on them for $84.95 and the exam was free! I don't remember exactly what she said but I think he's got 40/20 vision in one eye and 60/20 vision in the other and both are correctable to 20/20 with the glasses. He will need to wear the glasses all the time. He picked them both out with my help of course. He got one "nice" pair and one "fun" pair. He looks adorable in them both! He was excited to get them... I hope that carries over into wearing them as well. LOL
The bittersweet part is while glasses are by no means the end of the world, it's just another thing for kids at school to use to pick with. I am such a basket case not wanting my boys to experience the childhood I did with all the bullies I went to school with. I work so hard to keep them thin without making food an issue. I do NOT want them a part of the clean plate club. No one in my family who is a part of the clean plate club is thin! I want them to be able to walk away from food but at the same time it's so hard to get toddlers and preschoolers to eat anything. *sigh* At the same time, just one more thing for me to worry about. Where are they, are they safe. Keeping the younger boys from destroying them is going to be the end of me. I'm going to have to break some butts the first time they even attempt to abuse Joey's glasses.
I think, Auntie Patty would have some good advice for me or some calm reassuring words. I wish I could her them, whatever they are.
His glasses will be in in about 7-10 business days. They will call ... I will post pictures :)
I love you Auntie Patty, miss you every day.
I love you Joey, you are such a big boy and so darn cute in the glasses you picked out!!!
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