Over due update!!

Alrighty then...

Goodness, last time we chatted, I was so worried about Monday, and now it's FRIDAY!
The IFSP went great! And Amy...you were right. His therapists overrode the tests. He was only a little behind in fine motor, and she, the OT, kept saying..."I SO don't want to discharge him!!" The main concern besides speech, is keeping an eye on him. Checking in with him so to speak. So we have gone down to once a month with Teacher lady, and OT. He still get's speech 3 times a month, so every ten days or so, and Musikgarten, his little music class, once a week. They are also refering him for the little preschool. That is twice a week, for an hour and a half. WITHOUT ME!!!!!!!!! Not quite sure how I feel about that...I will be a few months before he starts that anyway. Probably not till summer anyway. And I may wait untill after we get back from Myrtle Beach!

The play tryouts went great! I love the whole process. They really do a great job. First they tell the kids about the play, and BEING in a play. They talk about commitment, and doing your best. They tell them, if you can't make a rehearsal, don't try out. They are trying to do a play in a week. Soccer baseball, parties...all have to wait, if you want to do the play. There have been a few years we have had too many other commitments, and couldn't do it. But sadly, some people think they are the exception to the rule... Last year even, Parker got sick at the beginning of the week, and had to drop out. It's a great lesson in commitment they teach.

Then they line up the kids in a BIG circle, and have them count off. Now they know how many kids, and didn't have to count themselves. It also gives them an idea of their "stage presence", before the even ask them to do anything. Then they go thr5ough a series of "tell us your name and age. Then tell us, as if you were a pirate! Then they have certain age groups do specific things. They had the little ones, K-2nd play Simon says, seeing how well they move, AND follow directions! The older kids, 12 and up, they taught them a paragraph, and they had to repeat it, in different charactors. One time they had to say it nerdy. Most of the had a southern accent. I thought that was funny. The age in between them, Parker's age, had to say a phrase a couple different ways. Then they had them all sing row row row your boat, like 20 times. NOT my favorite part...but it gives them a good idea of who can sing and stay on the beat...ish! :)

They play is written to incorporate LOTS of kids. So they give individuale parts, to the older kids. Then 3rd thru like 5th and K-2nd are a group. They little kids usually just have cute costumes, and come on stage only maybe 3 times, sing a little song, and do a little dance, and leave. It's WAY cute! The older set, will have some lines, and are on stage more. They also pick about 4 older kids, to be Assistant Directors. Last year, Nick was in charge of the sound. He hit play, when it was time! haha...

So THIS YEAR... Nick is again, an assistant director. He helps the older group of kids (Parker's group) learn their parts. He loves being in charge. Hmmm...wonder where he get's that? And Parker, is part of a silly group of kids who run around scaring people or something. They are both really excited. THey are having a blast! I can't believe it's friday already! It's been so quiet around here... :)

So if you're around...Try to come see it! They are doing it at 3 and 7, This Saturday, tomorrow. The 12th! Contact me, and I'll tell ya where!


And sorry for my long absence, my laptop is broken. I was on it the other day, and got a HUGE wave of nausua. So I set it down, open and went to the bathroom. I was so suddenly sick, I went straigh to bed. Luckily DH was home. While I was sleeping, I heard a LOUD CRASH! Yep, laptop. Jack had pushed it off, and it landed on the florr, upside down. UGH. And I just haven't had the time of the strength to deal with the idiots, geeks who think they know everything! Ya know? And the fact I live with a computor hog, limits me abit... so I jump on when I can!


And one of the other things from Monday, I was waiting to hear if I got job, but I didn't! *rolling eyes* I'll just keep looking. I did find a "home party" company last night that looks interesting. Check it out....what do YOU think... http://www.uppercaseliving.com/ They have the neatest stuff, and it's not outragously expencive. So, I'm thinkin about that...and a few other things.


Emma, has dance pictures tomorrow. Oh the horror! Do I doll her all up? Do I attempt to do her hair? Ugh ugh ugh...is all I can say. Her teacher wants them to have ringlets. Um ya...Emma can have ringlets.


Oh, and here's a recent picture of Jack, that just cracks me up. He was laughing hysterically! Can you tell!?!?

Monday is gonna be busy

Monday, is coming fast, and it has lots of things in store.

First off, we have Jack's IFSP-(parent teacher conference for infants). I have mixed feelings about it. I have loved his therapists, all of them. I love having them in our home. I consider them friends. Jack is doing so well, I am wondering what services they will take away. What friends, we will stop playing with. It feels stupid, to NOT want him to do well, so we can continue to get services.

We did most of the "testing", which is standerized...SO ANNOYING... but he did well. His motor skills are great. His fine motor is great. He can jump, catch a ball, kick, and walk on his tippy toes. His speech is coming along. He's getting more and more signs, that he will do spontaniously. And he copies the ones we show him. Granted, it's a very modified, JACK version...but he does them. But the only "words" he has, are Mom, HUH?, uh oh!, NO! He can meow, pant like a dog, and does a "Jack version" of roar, quack, and neigh. I don't remember if I told this here, but when we tell him to say something...he mouths it. NO SOUND! Just moves his mouth. And usually nods his head. It's funny. Reminds me of when I was waitressing, and in training they taught to nod your head when you ask if the want a drink! HAHA...

So we'll see how the meeting goes, and what conclusions will be made. For 2 years, I've been excited for him to go to special ed preschool. Now I worry he won't qualify. Part of me wants him to be around "regular" kids, the other wants him to stay FAR away from them. And with special ed, he will go when he turns three, not on the school year. There's the whole bus issue too...ya..he is SO NOT going on the bus- at 3!!!!!!! Some say speech will qualify him. Some say the hydro, and cleft will qualify him. WHo knows for sure. I know, I know, it's a year away...but hey...I'm SO GOOD at freaking out, before it's neccessary! :)

Then after school, are tryouts for Missoula Children's Theater. It's a wonderful company that travels around the country, putting on shows, in a week. The tryouts, will be tomorrow from 4-6, they will pick the cast and crew, then practice all week, and perform it on Sat. It is TRUELY amazing what they pull off. The most amazing thing...it's not painful at ALL!! heehee...I know you've been to plays that were painful...

So Nick and Parker are trying for that. hmmm...Emma is 5, but I think she has to be in kindergarten. Eh...we'll see.

There's a few other things, that I don't feel like devulging quite yet. But soon. Ya know, I LOVE to be busy, thrive on it as a matter of fact. It's going into it, that freaks me out!!

Wish me luck!

Stuff, Stuff and Stuff

Today was better. But I didn't really have a choice. Thrown back into life. No ones fault, just life. But really, my b u m, is great. It's weird really. Wasn't even that gimpy, if that makes sense. I have had a dull headache, all day. Three doses of m o t r i n, and still there. I hope I'm not catching Nick's crap.

I went to the Internal medicine Dr today. To check in on the happy pills. We're upping the dose, see if that helps. I took Jack and Emma, as it was just a chatting visit. When we pulled up to the hospital, where the office is, Emma said, "This is the hospital!" I said, "Yep, this is where they fixed my b u m!" As we were pulling up to valet, she said, "Are all these people getting their b u m's fixed?" Oh the mind of a child.

After the appointment, since Jack was with me, we went over to the Women's Center to visit Maternal Fetal Medicine. As we walked in, Emma said, "Isn't this where you got Jack?" heehee I'm actually kind of surprised she remembered it. We had a nice visit with our favorite ultrasound tech, and one of the Doctors. As you can imagine, they LOVE to see him doing as well as he is.I told them how I spoke in that class. Hopefully, they will refer moms to me going through some of the same stuff. It would be really cool, if we could do a special support group once a month or something. I'm going back to the hospital next week, for my post op. Maybe I'll run over again, and mention it!

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If you don't know this about me, I LOVE reality competition shows. American Idol, I'm completely obsessed. Jan can't come fast enough. But luckily, America's Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance, and Dancing with the Stars fill in the gap!! Oh how I love watching your average person go on to greatness.

I LOVE Dancing with the Stars. I thought it was kind of dumb the first couple seasons, and then thought I'd give it a chance last season. OH MY HECK!!! I LOVE IT. I love watching the goofy stars be graceful. Watching the little clips of how hard they work, and then seeing it pay off. I am of course LOVING Marie Osmond, and Jennie Garth, and even Jane Seymour, for doing the MOM representation. They are so fun to watch. Helio- something too hard to say, is SO fun to watch, and I love Julianne from last season. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out. Seriously, makes me so happy. Don't we all just need to have fun and pure happiness. There costumes are a tad immodest, but I just try to ignore it. And most of the time, the dancers BEAMING faces, overshadow, the lack of fabric!!

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Oh, and I wanted to tell you what Parker made yesterday. I so wanted to get a picture of it, but it didn't work out. Anyway, he STOLE butter out of my fridge, and made a sculpture of a budda. That's right, and butter sculpture. I honestly didn't know whether to kill him or applaud him for his artistic abilities. I'll see if I can get him to make another one, so I can get a picture.

A week of "FINALLY'S"

Here are the contest results...FINALLY...

First of all, thanks to all those who voted for Parker, but alas a younger, cuter child won. ...toddlers... *rolling eyes* Here is the link to see who DID win.

And the caption contest. That was fun huh? I have a zillion more...If I remember, we'll play again tomorrow. That is... if I make it out of church alive. Anyway...Caption...

THE WINNER IS.....

"Yeah, really funny, I know where this thing is supposed to go. I am not amused!" by Christine!!!

So the other "finally's"...

Jack was fussy all week, in the evenings. Classic sign of over draining. Also the back of his head seems to have increased in size. Just the back, below, of course, where they measure his head circumference.
So after much thought, and worry, I FINALLY took him in. I showed them this picture, and the Dr say, "Well, it 'FEELS' ok, I think he's fine." She's right, it doesn't feel squishy. So that's good. But why is it bigger. Some say it's the light in the picture, some say, OH MY HECK, you need to call. Who knows. But I noticed it first,
caressing the back of his head.

Of course since I took him in, he has been better. Of course. I think maybe he was just getting used to the new pressure in his head. But it doesn't explain the bulge.

Emma started school!! FINALLY. She's is having a blast! I had quite the moment the first day. The last time Emma and I walked into Miss L's class, Emma was a newborn, in her car seat! It hit me so hard, and I almost started to cry, but decided, it would only embarrass her! She is so big! She is so OLD. It's just crazy. My friend was just reminding me all her kids are in the double digits! Goodness, where does the time go...

The first day, they were to bring their favorite bear. Of course I forgot, but luckily, there were some to choose from in the car! Chicken Little, and a frog. Emma chose the frog. They went around the room, and Miss L asked everyone their "bear's" name. Emma's was so unusual, she asked her where she got it? Emma said, "From the CAR!!" Oye...

Then on Thursday, they had a parade, and picnic with them. This is Emma, taking her "frog" to go down the slide.

As I've told you before, Nick and Parker both had this sweet teacher. And when we bought Emma's backpack, I had forgotten, that this teacher, supplies them with a book bag. So now, we have set out, to make her book bag, all pink and High School Musical, like her back pack! Hopefully, she'll still like it for kindergarten. You know, how their favorites change so quickly! I'll put up a picture when we get it all decorated. I ordered the cutest iron on off Ebay. She'll get the bag on Monday or Tuesday. And then begins my own personal struggle of, letting her do what she wants, and making it look "nice" ...hate that struggle!

Then Thursday, Parker FINALLY turned 10, AND got his skate board. Ever since they were about 3 and 5, the 21 days between their birthdays, has been filled whining from Parker. "When is it MY birthday?" "How come Nick got presents?"...you know stuff like that. I thought it would get better the older he gets. I guess it has just gotten different. This year it was, "Nick won't let me ride his skate board!" Although... he was MUCH more willing to let other people ride his, always with the..."See I can be nice and share"...tag...but still... He is so happy to have his OWN skate board!!



As far as the rest of the week, well you know what happened! *rolling eyes*

Sunday, I start leading the singing. *sigh* I'll let you know what happens! I do want to share this though. My dear sweet Lisa reminded me of something. Here is what she said:

"When Ethan was in NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit), for those longs months, I had the opportunity to meet one of the twelve apostles. He said something very curious to me, that I’ll never ever forget.

He said, and I wish I had it written down, so I could quote him word for word, but it went something like this…'It is our obligation to provide service, even if we don’t feel like the person who is asking, actually needs that service. It is not our place to question, them. It is our responsibility to help them. As well as it is their responsibility to ask. There are grave eternal consequences for those that do not ask for help. They that deny others the opportunity of service, are far worse off, than those who don’t help, those that ask.'

It still gives me goose bumps. He was so close to me, and his hand was on my shoulder, and I didn’t just hear what he said, I felt it."

Thanks LIS!! I'll try to remember that...and try to FINALLY swallow my pride, and ASK!!!

Parker's a DECADE!!!

Well, we never thought we'd make it 10 years! But we/HE did! What a kid! Before Jack came along, Parker was our biggest "medical" kid! He inhaled a peanut, had 4 broken bones, before he was 4. He had extensive dental work done-twice, before he was 6, and has had more bumps and bruises, than I can count!

What a sweetheart he is. He is also a master ANNOYER, all in the same kid! He's good at everything he does. I keep trying to find something he isn't good at! He's hit 4th grade...so I'm sure we'll find something soon. ;)

PARKER, YOU ROCK!!! You make our house VERY entertaining...We'd be so boring with out you!!!

I LOVE YOU DUDE!!!!

July Yippee, and more stress...

I told you I've been crawling out of this hellish life/hole, I've dug for myself, right!Well...

I would like to announce to the world wide web: I have made dinner AND kept the kitchen clean for almost a week!!! I just couldn't contain myself!

I seriously deserve a medal!! I've been in that...fix something for Emma, make Jack a bottle, and the rest fend for yourselves. Or ...pizza, chinese, or Arby's. I know...it's sad. And...eat it walking around the house, or sitting on the couch, or on the floor, on a blanket sometimes. There were NEVER an clean dishes, cuz emptying the dishwasher is a boys' chore. So it was emptied over time as you needed something.

So this week, I decided to turn it all around, and Steve asked me to! :) We have had a meal, at the table, with REAL plates, and a clean kitchen at the end of the night, for a week.

It's been hard, but so worth it! Thanks for letting me share!!

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So... Nick is all registered for school. UGH! We've already had a problem. As I told you before Nick got an IEP at the end of last year. Part of it includes a very cool class, every day, called applied skills. Well, it wasn't on his schedule. *sigh* Which means, the "assisted ed"(instead of special ed) teacher hasn't looked over Nicks schedule. We talked to, NOT, his guidance councilor, and she is fixing it. (she was available, and his was not-they go by alphabet) But it does make me nervous. If it's starting out this way...ya know? I';m going to a workshop tonight, about getting the most out of your IEP, so I'm hoping that will help!

I'll keep you posted on that.

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Also, my neighbor, invited Parker to go "camping" with them. It is for 3 days, and about 2 hours away. They are going to Bear Lake, with a bunch of people from her mom's work. And she told me, a lot of those people drink(not lemonade and soda) and such. We decided not to let him go. I feel so bad. I know how much he wanted to go, I want to go! I just don't think he is old enough to go away for 3 days. He is also very impulsive and distracted. He wanders off, and doesn't even know he did. He also has been dealing with panic attacks. They have gotten better, but you never know when one is going to pop up. AND he has trouble sleeping. He has slept over at their house a few times, and come home at 2 am, cuz he couldn't sleep and had a panic attack! I know, he's almost 10. But he just isn't ready. I'm trying to "go with my boobs", and trust my mommy instinct. But he is SO mad, and hurt. I don't know. Any insight you might have would help. Even to validate me!!

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Well, I'm off to PTA meeting, to official start the school year. Last year I brought someone to make sure I don't sign up for stuff. This year, I'm going it alone. Wish me luck!!!