The Forgotten

 I took these (REALLY FUZZY) photos back in February and then completely forgot all about them! We were in Michigan so I could do counselor training for the camp I work for, and also were able to see some family.  The cute kiddos are my cousin Melissa's.  I'm sad Jenilee isn't going to do Wednesday's Walk anymore, but maybe she'll bring it back when things aren't quite so busy.

ShoutLaughLove: Truth, Humor, Difficulty and Beauty of My Journey

Truth:  Little Monkey Man earned his blog name because he is everywhere.  Into everything.  And all but impossible to keep track of.  Truth:  Some days I don't know if I am going to make it through his childhood.  

Humor: I never cease to laugh when he is around.  Sometimes I laugh to keep from crying...or committing a homicide.  But I laugh everyday.  This morning it was because he had ALL the blankets and ALL the stuffed animals in his bed...and poor Snug woke up with nary a thing.  And he was under the entire mound munching a contraband apple.  I did not let him see my laughter, rather quietly shut the bedroom door to compose myself before laying down the law.  I am "The Warden" after all.  Humor:  Whenever he smiles at you or wants your attention, he has taken to wiggling his eyebrows up and down to see if he can get you to smile.  

Difficulty:  This boy doesn't sleep.  At least not as much as I need to re-cooperate from him/the day.  We've tried removing naps, but he crashes between 5 and 6 pm only to be up and ready to face another eight hours by 8pm.  As it is, even with a short nap, he is still going strong (in his bedroom) often as late as 10pm and always always up by 6:30am, often earlier.  And that is when bed-clothes-stealing, contraband-food-eating takes place.  Difficulty:  He is sick quite often, both with virus related and allergy related things.  He catches everything.  Literally every two weeks he has something.  You can't keep him down while he's sick...so often he just has to stay home from school and church and run around like a maniac.  No fun.  

Beauty: Little Monkey Man, although you wouldn't know it from first glance, is actually an extremely caring sensitive little guy.  Sure, he will step/fall/trip over his little sister smashing her face first into the floor.  But he's always ready with a hug and a kiss to tell her he's sorry.  Even if he does have to grab a hold of her pigtails and yank her face up to give the kiss in the right place.  Beauty:  Our family wouldn't be the same without him.  Not sure what we'd do with all the calmness and quietness.  We'd be a very boring family!

This post is part of "ShoutLaughLove".  I wasn't even going to post today, but I know there are other moms out there dealing with super-active, strong willed, bull-in-a-china shop kids.  Blogging just puts things in perspective.  

Easter 2011

We had a really nice Easter.  We were able to visit # 1's family on Friday, along with our friend Faith.

Last Sunday evening our church had a service about the crucifixion that I attended with Snug.  He had lots of good questions...but was a little noisy about his questions.  He was quite upset with the soldiers.  He's heard the Easter story before, but there is something about a Good Friday or, in our case, other church service with the music and (at our church) video that makes it more "real".

Sunday I wasn't able to get into the Easter service as I was helping in Snug's preschool/kindergarten department.  I'm the coordinator for this area, so if there isn't enough help, I stay and lend a hand.  We had 27 kids so extra hands were needed!

After church one of the other teachers snapped this picture for us.  I like a nice outside Easter picture, but the weather around here is not lending itself to that.  We have had SO MUCH rain.

After church we had some friends from church over to enjoy dinner together.  Our kids played together after dinner and it was so nice to have adult interaction!!!!

Rejoicing that our Savior not only died for our sins, but rose again!  The hope and joy that his death and resurrection brings cannot be found anywhere else.  Hope your Easter was wonderful!

The Great Cloth Diaper Change

I had the fun privilege of doing a really fun Earth Day activity today!  It was the day of the Great Cloth Diaper Change!  Today cloth diapering moms across the US tried (not sure if it was successful yet or not) to break a Guinness Book of World Records for most diapers changed at the same time.  Over 400 locations took part in the event today.  

 Our location was in the middle of a large Eco-awareness fair at an Organic Gardening site.  There were tons of vendors there.  Snug went with Rosebud and I and got to plant a basket using recycled materials and organic materials.

 He had some help...

 ...but ended up with a basket (complete with a toy in the middle.  I guess they were toys people were going to throw away and got a new life as a planter piece).

 Here's Rosebud sitting on her "diaper changing station".  It was very regimented as far as what diapers were used (only cloth diapers currently available on the market, no homemade ones) and only people changing babies and babies allowed in the area.  The entire thing was photographed by a professional to make sure all the rules were followed.

 Snug even had to sit under the table where I could still see him but where he couldn't be seen by the photographer!

 There were about 40 babies participating in our location.  I have NEVER seen so many cloth diapering, babywearing mamas in my life!  It was kinda fun!  I am almost always in the minority.  I also won a prize that pertains to babywearing...and I don't really need it so I am going to try and figure out some sort of a giveaway!

 There was also a petting farm and other activities.  Snug had a wonderful time!

 On a completely different note, I want to share a few pictures with you of Rosebud's new hat.

 This is a hat with a cause.

Do you like it?  Does your baby/toddler need one?  

Well, you are in luck!  These hats are for sale (along with sock monkey hats, owl purses, and sock monkeys) for a good cause!  My new friend Faith and her husband are raising money to adopt from Ethiopia.  You can get more information www.fegingerich.wordpress.com  If you scroll down her blog a bit you can see more of what they are selling, or get in contact with her.  The adoption agency they are using is www.awaa.org.

The pictures were hard to get as she didn't really want to sit still...but trust me, this hat is A D O R A B L E!!!!!

Black and White Wednesday-Baseball Boy

 Click on the button above to see more black and white Wednesday pics.

 Snug started baseball (B-Ball) practice this week.  He was born ready to play baseball.  His signature "thing" is looking over at me during practice, squinting one eye shut in a wink and giving me a "thumbs up".  It is the funniest thing.  He is pretty good, but is working on being a team player.  He is learning that even though he can play all of the positions and beat everyone to the ball....he shouldn't.  His favorite part is running the bases and shouting "first, second, third, HOME!"

Watching his team is hilarious.  His coach would scare me if I met him in the dark...but looks are deceiving as he is one of the most patient encouraging guys I have ever met.  Teaching 3, 4 and 5 year olds to play ball is no easy feat.  A couple of the kids on the team are still 2.  It looks like herding cats to me, but he patiently gets them back into position and is really upbeat.

A couple of the younger kids on the team cried the entire first practice because they didn't want to be on the field and their parents are making them.  Little Monkey cried the entire first practice because he couldn't be on the field.  The second practice he brought his own bat, ball, and glove and had the other kids wanted to play with him instead of their team.  He has charisma.

This is my B&W picture this week.  He looks so much like his daddy!

The Goings On

I have pictures of Snug's first baseball practice.  I haven't uploaded them.

We have a mama bird and three eggs nested in the window of Rosebud's room.  I haven't photographed them.

We had more rain in a 24 hour period than I can ever remember witnessing.  Water in our basement, our backyard flooded, ducks swimming in the neighbors yard, and lightning hit our tree in the front yard as we were putting LMM down for a nap.  I took some video, but don't know how to post it.

I'm just not myself.  I don't know what has gotten into me, but I've been beyond exhausted since Sunday.  My allergies were bothering me all weekend, but that has cleared up and I still feel like I am in a fog.  I'm taking 1-2 naps a day.  My poor husband.  I know my mood is foul.

I fell asleep on accident today while I still had one of my daycare babies here.  Luckily she was taking a nap in her bed and it was just my kids playing in the living room.  If you know my kids you will marvel at how on earth I ever fell asleep with the three of them in the room.  They are not a quiet bunch.

I totally missed a monthly meeting on Sunday afternoon.  I do not miss meetings.  Ever.

I double booked tomorrow afternoon because I didn't consult my calendar.  I ALWAYS consult my calendar (Little Monkey Man has a home observation tomorrow with the school districts special ed person...I think he'll do fine but he may call children's services on his mother!!!!)

I scheduled a playdate for today when I had too many kids to transport.  I totally forgot one of my babies was coming.  So I had to cancel.  I hated having to do that, but ended up being so tired I was glad I was home instead.  I never ever feel that way.  I would always rather be out with a friend.

Even as I type I've had to fix about three words per sentence that I'm not typing correctly because my fingers are  so sluggish.  I don't know what is wrong with me, but when my normal self returns I will catch up on laundry, dishes, and household chores and then attempt to blog.  Until then, I'll be crashed on the floor somewhere.  Please don't step on me.

Rosebud's First Birthday

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Here's some pictures from Rosebud's first birthday.  I didn't want to make a super long post, so I hope you enjoy them this way.  We can't believe she is one already, but she is so much fun!!!!

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!  I'll post more pictures later, but I am utterly exhausted.  Here's her first birthday stats:
27 1/4 inch long
15 lbs 14 oz
8 teeth-4 on top plus a molar just sprouting on top along with three (one barely through) on the bottom.
Crawls, surfs the furniture, and pulls up on everything she can get her hands on.  CLIMBS
Chatters all the time, but we've heard "mama, dadda, ball, yeah"
No more bottles...had her last one before bed tonight.  My baby girl is growing up!

What To Do On A Rainy Day...

The book we read to go along with this activity is "The Button Box" by Margarette S. Reid  This is a must-read if you have a box full of fun buttons to look through!

Fishing

Dentist Visit

Yesterday was Little Monkey Man's first trip to the dentist.  He had his trusty sock monkey by his side.  

 He watched me get my teeth cleaned, and then kept asking for his turn.

He was really excited.

 I was a little worried about how he'd do...he isn't keen on people putting things in his mouth...sitting still...or strangers.  He did FANTASTIC!

I tried to get him to show his nice clean teeth, but he kept opening his mouth wide like the hygienist asked him too...not giving me any toothy smiles  :o)  His teeth are great and as a reward he was given a Toy Story toothbrush with the little aliens on it.  He was thrilled.

This is Snug's first trip to the dentist...he looks so little!!!  This trip Snug chose to go in without either #1 or I with him.  He chatted the hygienist's ear off and also did great.  No cavities, no crying!  Yeah for the Drays!

Home Again Home Again...

Rosebud was discharged at about 6pm.  She smiled and giggled and was super happy to be home.  And then she crashed.  Hard.

Her doctors didn't actually see her this evening, but based on her information they collected from her day they said she really could go either way-either stay at the hospital another night or go home.  They left it up to her nurses, who consulted me.  We agreed home was probably a better environment for her bowels to heal.  More restful, less environmental stress (ha ha) and no IV port in her hand.

So we're home...and so thankful.  Her weight is back up and she left 2 oz heavier than she's been in her entire life.  Quite a bit of that is IV fluid in her system as she was only taken it off of the IV at like 4pm.  She'll see our family doctor this week, probably tomorrow.

Thanks for your prayers!

Hospital :o(

Rosebud had seemed to be better from her stomach bug yesterday (Friday) but when she began having diarrhea and vomiting again this afternoon we called our family doc and he asked us to take her into our children's hospital.

I really love and really hate our children's hospital.  The hate is only because I hate to have to take my children there...ok and maybe because I was once seen there also.  But I love that they are a fantastic hospital super close to our home.

We also discovered she has lost an entire POUND since Tuesday.  After seeing her, the doctor (who received unsolicited cuddles and declared he was "in love") decided she needed an IV and some labs.  Well, he got his labs, but the IV was another monster.

The very kind, very patient nurses tried five times to get an IV line in, but it just wouldn't go.  Between being dehydrated and having...heavens I can't even think what they called her veins, it does have a name, it was tough. After a good 20 minutes straight of trying, they gave up, took blood from her foot that had been most recently punctured, and ran the labs.  She was FREAKING OUT.  FREAKING.  I've never seen her so upset.  I cried.

Remember when I said she is only unhappy/upset 5% of the time?  Yeah, that was a bunch of today.  And seriously, she was NOT.  HAPPY.  AT.  ALL.

After about an hour an IV therapist came in and tried again.  She brought with her the smallest needle (?) they have without going to the NICU and after two more attempts had success.  By now Rosebud was a basketcase, her parents weren't much better.  After all that, something had come loose and the IV was leaking so they had to untape everything and adjust it.  She was so upset I wouldn't have recognized her if I hadn't been with her the whole time.  When the labs came back they determined she needed to admitted.  By this time I felt like I needed to be committed!

At this point #1 decided to get us to our room and then head home himself.  A good friend stayed with the boys and he needed to go relieve her.  Rosebud was pretty tired and cranky when we got to the hospital room, and stayed that way till she got sugar water surging through her veins. That along with the half popsicle she ate (and spilled ALL over her hospital gown that I can't really get off her because the IV line is through it and the best I can do is  have it off her and stuck to the IV pole...yes, she is naked) got her feeling better fast. She then guzzled 6 oz of Pedialyte and became...drunk?...on sugar.

Buzzed may be a better word.  She was crazy crazy.  Perhaps she was making up for her angry/sad time earlier.  That started about 9pm...at 10:20 she is FINALLY settling down.  I'm actually writing this and ignoring her so she'll settle down in her "cage" and go to sleep!   A friend from church stopped by our house and picked up a bag for me complete with our computer.

So she's going to be fine, but it is never fun to spend time in the hospital.  They're concerned about her dehydration, and even more concerned about her losing 6% of her bodyweight in 4 days.  That is like...two months of growth for her.

We just thank God that other than a virus she is otherwise healthy and going to be going home ASAP!

Why Yes, Yes She Is

People often ask me if Rosebud is always as smiley and outgoing as she seems.  My answer?  "She is happy about 95% of the time.  When she's not WATCH OUT!"

 Here's the proof.  She is sitting on my lap.  She had vomited not 5 minutes before and had two days of severe diarrhea.  Although she looks a bit...disheveled....she is still her same happy self.  Did I mention her temperature is 102.7 in this picture?

 So is she always this happy?

Why yes!

Yes she is!


On a side note, this bout of sickness that started with a Draycare child coming sick and spread to LMM, Rosebud, and myself.  It made Rosebud lose a little over half a pound.  That is more than a months growth for her, and as she is already super tiny, would you pray she puts the weight back on quickly?  Thanks!