Poor Little Man *frank discussion of bodily functions*

I think it's hilarious how parenthood cancels out so many social rules. As soon as you get preggo or the baby arrives, the boundries for discussing bodily functions with family and friends disappears- especially when those functions belong to your little bundle of joy (and toxic waste).

It's funny sometimes, the words that kids come up with to name body parts and functions. For example, Shane has no idea what a stomach is.. it's his belly. His head isn't just a head, it's his 'noggin-head'. When he was potty training he came up with a code word for #2- 'rock bums'. He tried to drag Brett to the potty this morning- Brett passed gas and Shane was convinced (and rather concerned) that Daddy was doing rock-bums and needed to hurry. It was priceless.

But, not to pun, the term rock-bums has turned around to bite us in the bums. Austin was having trouble getting things out. I chalked it up to weaning and diet changes. A WIC appointment discovered that he wasn't gaining weight like he should have been. As we discussed his eating habits, I realized he hadn't been nursing as much, but he also hadn't been eating like he usually did either (the vaccum was clogged). I watched him over the next few days, where he'd just been doing a bit of extra straining before- he was now getting down on all fours, turning red in the face, backing himself across the room as he pushed, and taking breaks between efforst to come to me in tears for comfort. And only getting out bits half the size of a Hershey Kiss! Talk about ROCK-bums.
I took him to the doctor of course. Our new doc is really great- she's on the SAR team with Brett. And she said we had to get on this right away before it gets so bad he's afraid to go. Stool softeners and laxative suppositories were her perscription- for the next MONTH. I didn't think much of it- whatever I have to do to help him feel better. HA.
Going by the suppository schedule (every other day), we've been doing this for almost 2 weeks. I don't know if I can keep it up. Suppositories are never fun- for anyone. Today I had to get Brett to help me hold him down to get it to stay. Not long after, when the thing took effect... Austin was back on all 4s. I couldn't take his tears anymore- I made Brett take him into the other room and give him a blessing. Austin bawled when Brett took him away from me, but when they came back, he was calm and cuddling Brett. They're asleep on the couch together now.
The second part of the regime seemed to be the easy stuff. The Colace liquid stool softener I found was straightforward. 5 or 6 dropper-fulls every day. Austin loves Tylenol and Motrin, so I didn't forsee the difficulties. Like the screaming fits. The gagging at the first drop. The muocus that thickens and makes him choke and spit up. (Sorry if this is way nasty- it's way sad too.) I've tried hiding it in food, juice (which he's not supposed to have), eggnog, even soda- he detects it every time. When I force it down him, he cries and flings himself around for an hour afterward, protesting his treatment.
I know I have it really good. I thank the Lord every day that I have such healthy boys and the ability to take care of them fully. But this is breaking my heart to do.
I keep on, but I'm calling the doc on Monday to see if we can come up with another way. The goal was to make sure he didn't become afraid of #2. I'm afraid of it, and he's terrified of the medicine and #2.
Poor little man...

Champion of the Voiceless

Little boys can be so funny. Ours can be down-right nutters!

Austin has a funny little habit. He loves to put Paco's scoop of food into his dish... and sit down and share a bit or two with his furry friend. Lately, Paco's been on a 'diet' of sorts and hasn't taken kindly to Austin's company. So instead of sharing, Austin saves a few peices for himself, and plants himself elsewhere to snack. Today that spot was in the middle of thier inflatable jumper. Paco's metal scoop cup clutched in his hands, Austin was having a blast chowing down on his dog food... then Shane walked in the room.

They started wrestling over the cup, yelling at each other and pushing. It took my 100 proof mommy voice to get Shane to let go and come to me for an explaination. I could have talked myself hoarse trying to speak over and under his crying and outrage. Shane was convinced that Austin was commiting the utmost of crimes. Taking Paco's cup and eating his food?!?!?!?!? Shane is as stubborn as both Brett and I combined sometimes. "No Way, Mommy!" is his preferred objection.
There was no peace in this house until Austin surrendered the cup and remaining food to Shane.
What an activist! What a nutter! What a cutie!

Psychosis, Neurosis, and Me

Brett loves to joke about his stress and anxiety quirks...
We are often amused at the nutter kids we have...
Most of my oddness is a little more subtle. Like color organizing M&Ms.
Right now, one of my compulsions is all set to drive Brett insane. Our trip to visit his family and ski (for Brett's birthday) is set for March 9th. I've already started packing.
I know it's insane to start so early, but I can't help it. As soon as the date is set, I start making lists and organizing luggage. Austin has enough clothes that I can pack most of his stuff without worry- so I stated that this morning. Luck favors the prepared, right?
Shane and I are not as materially commfortable (get it, material... clothes.. ah ha ha hee hee). So I'll probably have us "living out of a suitcase" at least a week before we actually leave.
Brett, too, could easily pack most everything he needs and not really notice the clothing loss. But he won't until the day before travel. Drives me insane.
What chance do our kids have wth two nut-jobs like us for parents?!

Paranioa

Ever have one of those days (or weeks) where it seems like everyone and everything is out to get you...?

I was hoping to get the pictures I promised loaded and posted... but I can't find the cables or the adapter cards anywhere. So, they are trapped on my camera.

I was hoping to get farther in my spring cleaning. (Yes, I know it's no where near spring, but I'm hoping that if I can just get everything cleaned up and organized then it will be easier keeping it that way. Wishful thinking, I know, but a girl can dream) I need to get the living room floor clean so I have room to clear out under the stairs. The boys are determined NOT to let that happen. I tried to turn on the vaccum, but the cord had come unplugged somehow... Shane say me puzzling and piped up with one of his favorite sayings "whooosh, that was a close one!"
I know he doesn't like the vaccum, but come on! The floor is covered in the barley he's been playing in (like rice) and the bits of food Austin seems to shed where ever he goes- ewww.

Meahwhile, Brett's been sleeping all day long after studying all night. He failed a pre-test (for the first time EVER in his Coast Gaurd career) and has until the end of February to pass it now. Plus, it disqualifies him from taking the Service-Wide exams this go-round (the test they have to take for a chance at promotion.) Needless to say, Brett's in a wonderful mood and is lots of fun to be around. (If you hear later that I've been struck by lightening, you'll know why- the Lord doesn't like liars ;p )

I saw this on my friend Lisa's blog - thought it was interesting.
Copy it and bold what you have done in your life!

1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band
4. visited hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to disneyland
8. climbed a mountain (well, I call it a mountain...)
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped
12. visited paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. seen in person the statue of liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the mona lisa in france
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch-hiked
23. taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping (I almost made it a New Years resolution though...)
27. run a marathon
28. ridden in a gondola in venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or a sunset
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise (if you count the Alaska ferry as a cruise???)
33. seen niagra falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen michaelangelo's david
41. sung karaoke (not well and only in front of family)
42. seen the old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. visited africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. received a prestigious award
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the sistine chapel in person
50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theater
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of china
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies
62. gone whale watching
63. got flowers for no reason
64. donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a check
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the Lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in times square
74. toured the everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guards in london
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle (definately a goal for this year- even if I have to steal the thing...er, um, maybe not)
79. seen the grand canyon in person
80. published a book
81. visited the vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible
86. visited the white house
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating (I didn't kill it - but I prepared it and cooked it)
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone's life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the alamo in person
96. swam in the great salt lake
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee
100. learned to play an instrument

Excuses

If it's any comfort- I have a bunch of cute pictures (my boys are always cute) on my cameral right now... waiting.  What are they waiting for?  Internet.  Ahhh.. right now you're thinking, "you're posting so you have internet."  And you would be right  Internet is available... but only on the desktop.  I know it sounds way lazy- and it is a bit.  But I don't like trying to blog on our Apple desktop- it's different than the PC and worst of all, it's stationary.  Yes, didn't know that could be a crime did you?  It is stationary and my children are NOT.  There-in lies the problem.  

Brett went and disengaged the wireless internet from the laptop so I can no longer bring my blog with me to make sure the boys are being careful in their daily adventures. (and I can't watch Netflix, but that is beside the point.)  Brett also has another rule- that the boys can't touch the Apple.  Makes sense, but you tell Austin and Shane that they can't help me when both the keyboard and the mouse are so cool, they're wireless!  What boy can resist that?!  Not mine that's for sure.  Right now, I'm breaking the rules, with Austin on my lap "helping" me type so that I can let you know why you haven't heard from me in a while. 

Sorry.  Feel free to guilt trip my husband!

P.S. He gave a talk today in church- butter him up too, that might help.

Sunbeams

Today was Shane's first day as a Sunbeam- in the big 3 year olds Sunday School class instead of in the nursery. He was NOT in the mood for pictures today, so... sorry. It also made us (me) a tad nervous about the changes. Luckily, his new teacher used to be his nursery leader as well, so there's no problem there. That didn't stop me from peeking in every once in a while to see how he was taking things. When I saw him kneeling on the floor, turned around so he could color on his chair (remember doing that- using the chair seat as a table to hold your work of religious art?) I finally told myself in a firm voice to stop peeking.
Not 5 minutes later- I hear Shane crying. I sent Brett to check, hoping it wasn't my kid after all. But when you hear the cries of your own, you just know. So, following, I came to find a tear-streaked, crumpled little face hanging half way between a Primary sister and Brett. He quickly changed directions when he saw me. As I handed Austin off to Brett and gathered up Shane, Sister Kris and Brett (who saw and heard some of the fuss) brought me up to speed.

He got his head stuck in the chair.

Yup- what a little boy thing to do. It didn't take too terribly long for me to calm him down and we returned to sit together on the little chairs in the front row of Primary. Soon, Austin's hollers wafted their way into the room, easily heard over the music of singing time. Shane turned to me, his eyes still a bit wet, and in the most sympathetic, pitifully sad-for-someone-else voice, said, "Austin's sad." And turned back to singing time, dismissing me to go deal with the next crisis (just a tired baby).

Falling

Yesterday snow was falling. Today rain is falling. What's on my mind this morning is chidren falling. There's an old song "Please help me I'm falling in love with you.." Ah, but I have boys- if they're anything like their father or uncles, it will be decades yet before I have to worry about THAT type of falling.
Brett has declared '09 as a year of growing up. I think all the progress with Shane has excited him. As of this week, Shane sleeps on the top bunk. This involves a ladder up and down (and no rubbing Mommy's face all night- that's my favorite part). So far, so good. Except...
I believe I've mentioned how Austin loves to climb... and have posted pictures of him and ladders (he made it all the way to the top of the huge one at work- scary!) You can see where this is going...
They love to climb up and down the ladder. Austin likes to perch on the top step, and survey his kingdom. He occasionally misses on his way and "power slides" down- he loves it, thinks it's funny; it's prompted Mommy to surround the bottom of the ladder with pillows. Sometimes he misses the rungs all together and slips through them- hitting the pillows behind the ladder.
All of these happenings made me wonder if 'bunk'ing the beds was the best idea, but I stuck with it.
Then, one day, things went sideways. I carefully watched Austin climb up the ladder. Turned to put Shane's socks on him. and turned back to have a little boy bounce out of my lap and hit the floor.
Austin fell off the top bunk.
I'm still trying to covince Brett that, though the top bunk does have railings, maybe a containment net or more rails (higher) would be a good project.

Occupational Therapy 2

Should I feel guilty that the Coast Gaurd is paying for my child to play with a professional?
We had a really awesome time today and Ms. Celeste said it was OK for me to take pictures.
I love how she explains things in between fun. She started with some heavy lifting- it helps him tense and basically locate his muscles and helps him focus.

She did some Supermans on the ball- finding his balance. All the time, encouraging Shane to talk in full sentences.

Stretching his brain, she pulled out her shape sorter. Shane loves those things, matching and twisting the pieces.

From that, she went into the messy stuff that usually hangs up Shane. True, no kid, not even Shane can resist bubbles, but I've watched him take a bit of time to work himself up to getting his mouth close enough to the dripping bubble wand to actually blow a bubble. And you can usually forget it if he has to put is mouth on things. Today was different.

Then more small motor skills, threading beads. Shane's been doing a little bit at school, evidence is the "icicle" of tyrofoam figure-eight peanuts that hung on our Christmas tree (and for some reason I actually packed away for next year- hmm, I've lost my mind.) He did very well, showing off his problem solving skills by trying different ways to string the beads (hold the bead still? hold the string still? thread toward the floor, or sideways? oh, the difficult decisions of childhood.)

She combined the beads with the rice- Shane wasn't interested in touching it today, butt was able to switch gears (beading, digging, beading, etc.) wich he isn't usually good at doing.

In between times, he got to crawl through the tunnel. It is his all-time favorite. Just now, looking at the pictures, he was begging to go through again, saying please so sweetly and everything. I need to find him one.

Of course, he made sure Austin took his turns too.

Aussie kept trying to stand inside the tunnel- Shane thought it was hilarious.

They brought me the pieces of the puzzle; coming through the tunnel; then put it all together, talking the whole way. They're on thier tummies because it takes more muscles- holding your head up and everything.

Finally, the scooter-board. Austin found a way to help.

This kid is fast and furious.

What does all this do? For the very first time today, Shane put on his socks all by himself. Doesn't sound too huge. but it is to me who still mostly dresses my 3 1/2 year old. But to cheer all at once, he followed up putting on his socks by hid boots, hat and coat--ALL BY HIMSELF.

That earned him a little something from the prize box He chose a little gummy Sticky Hand- that we showed him how to throw against the walls and windows. Last I saw it, it was stuck on the sliding glass door.

This stuff stretches out to affect the rest of life too. He started having troubles being dropped off at school. They instigated a morning swing session for him after noticing that he did better after swinging on the playground. It's the same as the scooter-board, and Daddy flipping him around and running laps, and a hundred other little tricks and games he has come up with to help him cope with the world around him.
Celeste said the other day that had we not actively looked for help for him, he would have continued to find his own ways to deal with the sensory over- and under-load. He's incredibly smart. But, it would take him longer and longer and be much more stressful as he continued alone.

SNOW!

Today, my mind has been on snow. Between the time Brett came home last night (this morning actually 5 am) and the time the boys and I headed out for the morning (10) we got 4-7 inches of snow. It was wonderful. But it got me reminiscing.

I got to thinking about the snow we used to get over in Homer. I'm sure everyone on the Penninsula is still "enjoying" the same amounts of snow. I sure miss it though.

The sledding games we used to play were foremost in my thoughts. I know that if Mom had seen some of the things we were doing, she would have flipped. It's a miracle that we didn't have any injuries, or broken limbs, or a concussion at the very least. Somehow we all escaped unharmed. We tried to be safe, with watcher on the bottom of the hill and the top of the hill; not that we ever got too many cars on our road.

I'm officially inviting everyone who joined in on our games of Crash and Thread the Needle and whatever else we called our shenanegans; to send me stories of what you remember, so I can post them.

For today, I thought I'd share the rules of the games I remember.

Crash: This one is fairly simple. Whoever could involve themself in the most cringe-worthy one-persone wipe-out, without getting hurt (vital- if someone got hurt then we'd all get in trouble) WON! yeah, I don't remember ever settling on a winner, we all just kept trying to top each other- though I'm sure I never got anywhere close to some of the things the boys would put themselves through.

Thread the Needle: At our house, we only had 3 sleds. One disc and 2 plastic tobbogans (the ones that could fit 2 people sitting, 3 if they were small). So, we shared. The idea behind this game was to make the most fun for everyone. We'd set our watchers, to make sure we didn't get surprised by any cars. The one who's turn it was on the disc would go down the hill and wait. The other two, at the same time, or in turn, would then try to make it past the one on the disc. Simple enough, though the title of winner went to the one who could safely make it by, on the side closest to the snow berm. Challenging when the disc lands right next to, if not half way up one side. Again, I was no where near as daring as my brothers.

It would be so much fun to go out sledding again. Even just a visit to Olsen Mountain would be fun. I don't know of any places around here that were as all enoyable as could be found in Homer.

I get the impression from Brett sometimes that sledding is not something 'grown-up'. He's planning a skiing and snowboarding trip south, but I'm not so sure where I'm going to fit in to the whole thing. I'd love to learn to snowboard for real, but spending money to fall on my butt in front of hoards of strangers isn't on my list of things that are fun to do. Call me crazy.

Wii!

Last winter, the local computer store had a little sign on thier door saying 'Ask About Wii'. So we did. It was going to be the next big thing, so we (mostly Brett) wanted to see it in person. They were out.

This year, the sign was back. Loaded down with cranky children and a head full of everything that I didn't have time to get done, I was only interested in getting through the next store alive (toy store- the most dangerous kind).
Brett wanted to at least see one, so he was going to try to steal a peek while I went on ahead.
Imagine my suprise when he caught up to us in the store with a white box under his arm.

BUT, it's been pretty fun so far. Brett is far more skilled than I am at pretty much everything.

We're fairly even on bowling (a game I've missed- there's no bowling alleys here). And everyday when Shane gets home from school, he insists we (I) play a round of his Diego game. He helps off and on, but mostly, it's just me.

We're all having fun now- right? Wii!

May The Force Be With You

Uncle Kenny (Brett's younger brother) is in for it!

He got Brett a gift that no boy could resist, thinking that if he only put Brett's name on it then it would be our choice if the little boys played with it. And he would be absolved of any responsibility. Think again buster! I learned my lesson about buying annoyingly noisy toys for kids that aren't mine, you will learn as well- I'll make sure of it! :P

The clash of blades- that never actually touch!

The boys are very cautious with them, it took me a half an hour to convince Shane to actually touch Austin with the glowing saber.

Austin likes to "practice" on his own when Daddy's trying to watch movies and it's nice and dark.

Though most nights, I think it's just the light show he likes best.

The Force is strong with this one- be afraid, be very afraid!

Distraction

The biggest challenge of Christmas was keeping Shane out of the gifts until Dad was ready. It was cake once I let him open Kat's present. Dad figured out how to hang it from the table crack, and the rest was fun and games.

It was a while before Kat even got his turn.

Must Be Santa

We had a funny kind of Christmas this year. Brett was slotted to work, and not knowing how long he'd be kept there- the original plan was to hold off, do the stockings and Santa would stop at our house during nap. Ha ha...

I guess Brett forgot the plan. I fell asleep while trying to get the boys to bed (suprise, suprise). He woke me up the next morning to let me know that he'd helped Santa move all the presents but didn't help with the other stuff.

So, I got up early Christmas morning while the boys slept in (is it just me or is that backwards?) to help Santa figure out the stockings and put bows on boxes.

When the boys did make thier appearances, all they wanted to do was watch a movie, but eventually, I got the TV off and the boys interested in what was spilling out of their stockings.

Shane refused to put on his Christmas PJ pants, but Austin didn't mind them. I ended up sewing them by hand when the boys kept trying to touch the sewing machine needle.

Brett ended up getting home by 9:30, so he had time to walk the dog while I ate and kept the monkeys off the piles of presents under the tree. I'll go into the big buys later (Wii!!!) but some of the biggest hits for the boys were...

for Austin, the box his new shirt came in (we all had some stuff in the box which is why it was big enough). He's in love with boxes. I ended up having to steal that one, so he found that he fits into one of the post office boxes- the bigger ones..

Shane got lots of stuff, including 3 different train sets. His favorite came from Aunt Kerrianne, Uncle Allen, Emily, William and Evan. It didn't even get out from under the tree. He planted himself right there until I set it up and got it going for him. His little OCD is that the train has to be in the same order every time. Shane's facination with trains has gone to the point where AUSTIN will go around stealing them and saying 'toot toot'. The big brother idolatry is something else!

Family Pictures

It took a long time to finally nail down Brett to get our Christmas picture shot this year. You're probably wondering where yours is at- so am I! Brett found some big suprises from Santa this year, so the Christmas letters are turning into New Years letters (though we've missed that one as well, the next big holiday is Valentines Day, and I don't want to have to take another picture to make sure it fits. Maybe for Groundhog's Day...hmmm.)

It took a number of tries.... Shane kept making this face (closing his eyes against the flash)

Brett wanted to skip the picture entirely- one even had him snoozing (it was fuzzy though).

We ended up with this as final draft...

Austin was the one that never had a bad shot, if only that luck would spread.

Creative Cottage

Shane's class made "gingerbread houses" (nuf said)

Dad appreciated the Swedish Fish- that's their favorite treat to share.

Mr. Silly

Are you ready for Mr. Silly! A mish-mash of some fun pictures of Austin.

Captain underpants.

Gotta put it in his mouth!

Binky Face- he's talking a teensy bit now- his mush plug has been titled "ginky".

This guys slick!

You can't deny the charm that this monkey has.