Our little chicks finally have a coop. Jay spent Memorial Day weekend building a coop for them. It is not completely done, but it is pretty much there. So, I moved the chicks into it yesterday afternoon, just before the rain. I opened the door for them this morning, but since it was cold, they had not desire to come out. Later in the day, I checked on them. Two had gotten out of the coop and couldn't figure out how to get back in. They huddled underneath it, trying to stay warm. The other 6 inside were huddled back in the far corner trying to stay warm and out of the draft from the door. I decided that I would just have to close the door. I gave them a heat lamp and chased the other two around the yard a bit. Finally I caught them and put them back in the coop. They are warm and happy now.
They really enjoyed being out and in the yard over the weekend. Hopefully, it will warm back up so that they can go out again.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
My social misfit
We had a conference with Joe's teacher recently. It was supposed to be just the standard, end of year conference. We went over his report card and the areas that he needs to improve. His social behaviors are still just not at all where they need to be for a boy getting ready for first grade. She called Joe an "academically gifted social misfit." I was a littled miffed that she called him that, but Jay's reply (when I relayed it to him) was "just like his dad"
Jay had lots of social problems as a small child as well. He once got kicked out of science camp for putting super glue in all the door locks. I could see Joe doing something like that. We are probably past due for another evaluation. The last two haven't done much so I wasn't really pushing for another one. His teacher is recommending one though. She thinks now that we have a year of documented behaviors and opinions from his teachers that we may benefit from another evaluation.
There was one time that I worried about a label on Joe. Now, I just want help. I don't want him to hate school or be miserable at school. Joe complains to his teacher and us that none of the kids in his class pick him to be a partner. His teacher explains that the reason is his behavior towards them. If he would be nicer, they would be friends. Joe just can't seem to grasp the relationship between his behavior and their reactions.
We'll see.
Jay had lots of social problems as a small child as well. He once got kicked out of science camp for putting super glue in all the door locks. I could see Joe doing something like that. We are probably past due for another evaluation. The last two haven't done much so I wasn't really pushing for another one. His teacher is recommending one though. She thinks now that we have a year of documented behaviors and opinions from his teachers that we may benefit from another evaluation.
There was one time that I worried about a label on Joe. Now, I just want help. I don't want him to hate school or be miserable at school. Joe complains to his teacher and us that none of the kids in his class pick him to be a partner. His teacher explains that the reason is his behavior towards them. If he would be nicer, they would be friends. Joe just can't seem to grasp the relationship between his behavior and their reactions.
We'll see.
After all these years
I had it pretty tough when I was in junior high school (7th and 8th grade). We were the only two grades in that building and my mother was the only 7th grade literature teacher. If you were in the 7th grade, you had my mom for a teacher. That meant all my friends had her as a teacher. It was very hard for me since there were many kids that didn't do well in my mom's class and chose to take it out on me. I got picked on a lot and didn't have many friends. There were a few girls that would have been friends with me, but everyone who tried to be my friend, got picked on too. I had several guy friends and by the time I was in 8th grade, I had several 7th grade friends. One friend was my best friend though. His name was Jesse and we were very close. My dad lost his job half way through my 8th grade year. Dad moved to Indiana for 6 months until we finished school and moved there too. Jesse and I were friends for a while after after I moved, but 8 hours away from each other is just too far. Back then, there wasn't as much internet/email that there is now. I have thought about him from time to time and had looked on facebook for him, but he wasn't listed under our old school and his name is just too common to search it by itself.
Two days ago, I got a friend request from him on facebook. He had found me. He had just joined a few weeks ago. He is currently living in Sweden. He wrote on my wall just to say hi and I too wrote on his wall and asked how he ended up in Sweden. He then sent me a book of a message. He is having a tough time there and needed a friend. We have been writing since then and it is amazing that it seems almost like no time has passed at all.
Two days ago, I got a friend request from him on facebook. He had found me. He had just joined a few weeks ago. He is currently living in Sweden. He wrote on my wall just to say hi and I too wrote on his wall and asked how he ended up in Sweden. He then sent me a book of a message. He is having a tough time there and needed a friend. We have been writing since then and it is amazing that it seems almost like no time has passed at all.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Catching up
Well, I don't have much exciting going up, but I thought I would do a little catch up today.
My brother Nick and his wife Kelly were in town over the weekend so we spent Saturday at my mom's house in Cambridge. It was a little bit of a break for Jay and I since the kids want to play with their aunt and uncle all day. Nick and Kelly will be traveling to China this year. Nick for about 4 weeks and Kelly for about a week. It is something to do with Nick's research, but I am not clear on the details. They are also getting a puppy soon, a male Wheaton Terrier.
I finished painting our bedroom yesterday. We now have 4 rooms done or mostly done. Progress is a lot slower than I had hoped for, but I think we are sorta dragging our feet on purpose. We haven't found anything we are interested in that is close enough for Jay to drive to, so we aren't rushing to get the house ready. We have so much work to do though, that I feel we should be working now. Jay is just sorta not as interested though.
Yesterday, I caught Tommy peeing on my flowers that I just planted in the pot on the front steps. He said he just couldn't wait to get inside to do it. He was right next to the front door, but too lazy to open it. We have let them pee outside before, but never when they have the option of going inside to pee. It is usually when we are hiking or camping or something.
I had some friends over Friday night for scrapbooking, but I just wasn't in the mood so I didn't get much done. I mostly just drank margarittas and pushed photos around a little. I wanted to do it, but I just wasn't able to make anything happen. Oh well, it happens like that sometimes.
My brother Nick and his wife Kelly were in town over the weekend so we spent Saturday at my mom's house in Cambridge. It was a little bit of a break for Jay and I since the kids want to play with their aunt and uncle all day. Nick and Kelly will be traveling to China this year. Nick for about 4 weeks and Kelly for about a week. It is something to do with Nick's research, but I am not clear on the details. They are also getting a puppy soon, a male Wheaton Terrier.
I finished painting our bedroom yesterday. We now have 4 rooms done or mostly done. Progress is a lot slower than I had hoped for, but I think we are sorta dragging our feet on purpose. We haven't found anything we are interested in that is close enough for Jay to drive to, so we aren't rushing to get the house ready. We have so much work to do though, that I feel we should be working now. Jay is just sorta not as interested though.
Yesterday, I caught Tommy peeing on my flowers that I just planted in the pot on the front steps. He said he just couldn't wait to get inside to do it. He was right next to the front door, but too lazy to open it. We have let them pee outside before, but never when they have the option of going inside to pee. It is usually when we are hiking or camping or something.
I had some friends over Friday night for scrapbooking, but I just wasn't in the mood so I didn't get much done. I mostly just drank margarittas and pushed photos around a little. I wanted to do it, but I just wasn't able to make anything happen. Oh well, it happens like that sometimes.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
This stress
I am being overwhelmed with stress. It makes me a grump. It makes me short tempered and irritable. It makes me lazy and eat too much.
I am trying to cut back. I have declined the MOMS Club board positions for next year and am stepping down from all committees. I haven't decided about preschool preview night yet. I feel like it is my baby and I am not sure that I want to give that up just yet. I think that mostly it will depend on where we are living. Of course, that is a major stress too.
I feel like we have 3 options:
1) Buy a decent house for a large sum really far from Jay's work.
2) Buy a dump of a house closer to Jay's work and have a project.
3) Add on rooms and a fence to our house.
Now, none of these options is really a great one. Jay doesn't want a project since we have worked almost the full time we have lived in this house. Jay also doesn't want to drive an hour to work, and I don't really want him to drive an hour to work either. I don't really want to add on to our house. It doesn't solve the problems we have with traffic in our neighborhood. I am tired of the cars doing 40 in a 25 mph zone. I am tired of being woken up at 1 in the morning by kids squealing tires at the school. Ugh! I am done! This was just supposed to be a temporary house. A house that we lived in and improved, 4-5 years and we would move. That was the plan. Now it will be 7 years on the 17th. 7 years! My mom is very much with the idea of moving, but my dad thinks we should add on.
We want a house with 4+ bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a garage or barn, and 4+ acres. We want good schools as I am a huge believer in public schools and a quiet street.
We looked at one last night in Edgewater. Great schools, perfect neighborhood, at the end of a dead end street. The house backs up to wooded areas that won't ever be developed. Sounds perfect right? Well, the problem is that the house is small, and a dump. Jay doesn't want a project. However, the house he keeps trying to get me interested in has horrible schools, great location and neighborhood, 10+ acres, and is a project too. Though his "house" is bigger. The one he likes is about 3600 sq ft if you count the basement and the one we looked at last night is only about 2000.
I wish we could have bought Laurel Brook. It was perfectly us.
This sucks.
I am trying to cut back. I have declined the MOMS Club board positions for next year and am stepping down from all committees. I haven't decided about preschool preview night yet. I feel like it is my baby and I am not sure that I want to give that up just yet. I think that mostly it will depend on where we are living. Of course, that is a major stress too.
I feel like we have 3 options:
1) Buy a decent house for a large sum really far from Jay's work.
2) Buy a dump of a house closer to Jay's work and have a project.
3) Add on rooms and a fence to our house.
Now, none of these options is really a great one. Jay doesn't want a project since we have worked almost the full time we have lived in this house. Jay also doesn't want to drive an hour to work, and I don't really want him to drive an hour to work either. I don't really want to add on to our house. It doesn't solve the problems we have with traffic in our neighborhood. I am tired of the cars doing 40 in a 25 mph zone. I am tired of being woken up at 1 in the morning by kids squealing tires at the school. Ugh! I am done! This was just supposed to be a temporary house. A house that we lived in and improved, 4-5 years and we would move. That was the plan. Now it will be 7 years on the 17th. 7 years! My mom is very much with the idea of moving, but my dad thinks we should add on.
We want a house with 4+ bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a garage or barn, and 4+ acres. We want good schools as I am a huge believer in public schools and a quiet street.
We looked at one last night in Edgewater. Great schools, perfect neighborhood, at the end of a dead end street. The house backs up to wooded areas that won't ever be developed. Sounds perfect right? Well, the problem is that the house is small, and a dump. Jay doesn't want a project. However, the house he keeps trying to get me interested in has horrible schools, great location and neighborhood, 10+ acres, and is a project too. Though his "house" is bigger. The one he likes is about 3600 sq ft if you count the basement and the one we looked at last night is only about 2000.
I wish we could have bought Laurel Brook. It was perfectly us.
This sucks.
What the...
Okay, so when we had all the rain a short time ago, we were getting puddles in the basement. Pretty close to once a day, (sometimes more), I was cleaning up a puddle in the basement next to the basement door. We just put that door in last fall and I was really worried that it was leaking and causing the pools of liquid on the floor.
This morning, I was in the office downstairs, printing flyers for the MOMS Club open house and walked into the toy room. Joe said "ewww Mommy, Tommy just peed on the floor." I looked at Tommy, expecting to see him with wet pants, but he was dry. I asked if he peed on the floor and he nodded yes.
"Where?" I asked.
"Next to the door" he replied.
After making him clean it up and much discussion, it turns out that he is too freaking lazy to walk up a flight of stairs and pee in the potty. He would much rather just pee on the floor. He also confessed to doing it several times.
More potty news:
Sammy has lost some of his interest in the potty. That's okay. I felt like he was a little young and rather than push the issue like I have done with the last two boys, I just moved him back to diapers today.
Even more potty news:
We finished both bathrooms. The half bath has a new medicine cabinet, mirror, light, toilet and paint. Our full bath has a new floor (ceramic!), new vanity, new medicine cabinet, light and paint. Both look very nice and I am happy they are done.
Sammy's bedroom is also painted, but I am waiting on the second coat on the closet door before we can put it all back together.
This morning, I was in the office downstairs, printing flyers for the MOMS Club open house and walked into the toy room. Joe said "ewww Mommy, Tommy just peed on the floor." I looked at Tommy, expecting to see him with wet pants, but he was dry. I asked if he peed on the floor and he nodded yes.
"Where?" I asked.
"Next to the door" he replied.
After making him clean it up and much discussion, it turns out that he is too freaking lazy to walk up a flight of stairs and pee in the potty. He would much rather just pee on the floor. He also confessed to doing it several times.
More potty news:
Sammy has lost some of his interest in the potty. That's okay. I felt like he was a little young and rather than push the issue like I have done with the last two boys, I just moved him back to diapers today.
Even more potty news:
We finished both bathrooms. The half bath has a new medicine cabinet, mirror, light, toilet and paint. Our full bath has a new floor (ceramic!), new vanity, new medicine cabinet, light and paint. Both look very nice and I am happy they are done.
Sammy's bedroom is also painted, but I am waiting on the second coat on the closet door before we can put it all back together.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Calling poison control
Our house is a disaster area right now because we are painting the inside. Bedroom closet doors are stacked in the living room, stuff is piled up everywhere.
Since those closet doors are in the living room, it means there is no way to keep little kids out of closets. Sam's closet was emptied since he is in that room alone at night. My closet is not empty. Sammy wanted to go potty so I took off his jeans and sent him to towards the bathroom. He got sidetracked and went to my closet instead. He somehow managed to find one of the few things in his reach that could hurt him, all the way on the back of the shelf. I came into the room about a minute after he did and his shirt, face and hands were wet. But no bottle or anything in sight. I took him to the bathroom and helped him go potty. The whole time I was looking at him wondering what was going on. He looked at me and said "I drank mommy's water. I got it on hands" He held out his hand. I smelled it and the smell was familiar, but I couldn't place it. I went to the closet and started poking around in there. I smelled the lotions, but that wasn't quite right. And there it was. In the very back of the closet, stashed where I would not normally have it. He must have stuck it back there after he was done. Baby oil. It was a fairly new bottle and there wasn't much gone. I can't imagine that it tastes very good, but who knows. I taste tested the last thing he drank, so I was not going to do it this time. I called poison control and after a series of questions, I hung up feeling reassured that he was fine. If the child has no breathing problems, doesn't injest much and already has food in the stomach, then they will typically be fine. The biggest problems (has been fatal in the past!) is when it gets in their lungs. He will probably have diaherra from it. The lady just said to wipe his mouth and have him drink anything that he wants.
This is the second time we have had to call poison control. Both times have been for Sam. The first time he drank dish soap. I wasn't sure how much he drank, but he was making bubbles with his mouth. I tasted it and it was extremely bitter, but I called poison control anyway. He was fine then. He seems fine now, but it is always better safe than sorry.
Since those closet doors are in the living room, it means there is no way to keep little kids out of closets. Sam's closet was emptied since he is in that room alone at night. My closet is not empty. Sammy wanted to go potty so I took off his jeans and sent him to towards the bathroom. He got sidetracked and went to my closet instead. He somehow managed to find one of the few things in his reach that could hurt him, all the way on the back of the shelf. I came into the room about a minute after he did and his shirt, face and hands were wet. But no bottle or anything in sight. I took him to the bathroom and helped him go potty. The whole time I was looking at him wondering what was going on. He looked at me and said "I drank mommy's water. I got it on hands" He held out his hand. I smelled it and the smell was familiar, but I couldn't place it. I went to the closet and started poking around in there. I smelled the lotions, but that wasn't quite right. And there it was. In the very back of the closet, stashed where I would not normally have it. He must have stuck it back there after he was done. Baby oil. It was a fairly new bottle and there wasn't much gone. I can't imagine that it tastes very good, but who knows. I taste tested the last thing he drank, so I was not going to do it this time. I called poison control and after a series of questions, I hung up feeling reassured that he was fine. If the child has no breathing problems, doesn't injest much and already has food in the stomach, then they will typically be fine. The biggest problems (has been fatal in the past!) is when it gets in their lungs. He will probably have diaherra from it. The lady just said to wipe his mouth and have him drink anything that he wants.
This is the second time we have had to call poison control. Both times have been for Sam. The first time he drank dish soap. I wasn't sure how much he drank, but he was making bubbles with his mouth. I tasted it and it was extremely bitter, but I called poison control anyway. He was fine then. He seems fine now, but it is always better safe than sorry.
Jelly beans, please
So yesterday, Jay put Sammy on the potty. We do this from time to time, but he never does anything. Yesterday, he peed! So Jay gave him a jelly bean. Sammy thought that was really neat so about 15 minutes later, he told Jay he needed to go potty. And he went! We gave him another jelly bean and a pull-up (leftover from Tommy's potty training). He went the entire day with no accidents. He peed in the potty about every 20 minutes and asked to go most of the time with no prompting. Before bath, he pooped in the potty!!!
Potty training the other two bordered on being my worst nightmare. Now, I highly doubt that the rest of Sammy's training will be as smooth as yesterday, but I am glad that we had a good first day.
Potty training the other two bordered on being my worst nightmare. Now, I highly doubt that the rest of Sammy's training will be as smooth as yesterday, but I am glad that we had a good first day.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Too funny
Okay, I was trying to go to sleep, but decided I need to share this before I forget. I always have funny things with my kids, but never a chance to share them before I forget.
This week is teacher appreciation week at school. The PTA sent home some pages for the kids to write Thank you notes to the teachers and to draw them a picture. Joe was assigned to write one for his classroom teacher, the kindergarten classroom aide, and the PE teacher. The PE teacher is also in charge of the assemblies that take place at school. He wanted to write to the PE teacher first. The kindergarten students are required to do their own work with no help. They have to sound out all the words and write them the best that they can.
Deyr Mrs. _____
Fack you foer asemblys. Fack you foer beying a jim techer. Foerm Joe.
Now, I could not stop laughing when I read this. His lowercase a's are really close to lowercase u's. I really wanted to photocopy it, but I don't have any way to scan it at home. This was also the one time I decided to bend the rules and help him spell Thank the correct way. It was just too close to being an insult to let it pass and I could not stop laughing. Even as I write this, I am laughing.
Okay, I know some of you are trying to figure out why Joe thinks that Thank starts with an F. Joe still has one speech problem that we are trying to correct. We had hoped that he would grow out of it as it is a development step, but he hasn't yet. TH and F sound fairly similar and are the same to Joe. I was wearing a shirt a few days ago that says "Are you acid free?" Joe said "free is a homophone." I said, "no, it is only spelled one way." He then went on to spell "T-h-r-e-e".
This week is teacher appreciation week at school. The PTA sent home some pages for the kids to write Thank you notes to the teachers and to draw them a picture. Joe was assigned to write one for his classroom teacher, the kindergarten classroom aide, and the PE teacher. The PE teacher is also in charge of the assemblies that take place at school. He wanted to write to the PE teacher first. The kindergarten students are required to do their own work with no help. They have to sound out all the words and write them the best that they can.
Deyr Mrs. _____
Fack you foer asemblys. Fack you foer beying a jim techer. Foerm Joe.
Now, I could not stop laughing when I read this. His lowercase a's are really close to lowercase u's. I really wanted to photocopy it, but I don't have any way to scan it at home. This was also the one time I decided to bend the rules and help him spell Thank the correct way. It was just too close to being an insult to let it pass and I could not stop laughing. Even as I write this, I am laughing.
Okay, I know some of you are trying to figure out why Joe thinks that Thank starts with an F. Joe still has one speech problem that we are trying to correct. We had hoped that he would grow out of it as it is a development step, but he hasn't yet. TH and F sound fairly similar and are the same to Joe. I was wearing a shirt a few days ago that says "Are you acid free?" Joe said "free is a homophone." I said, "no, it is only spelled one way." He then went on to spell "T-h-r-e-e".
Monday, May 4, 2009
There's no place like home
It is pretty obvious that our home life is currently disrupted with Jay being gone. It is crazy here. My house has also gone beyond messy and beyond flat out dirty. I don't know what to call it but it's not pretty. I keep trying to clean it up, but then something happens to drag it all backwards. The house looked okay is spots when we left for our Day Out With Thomas yesterday. However, my parents showed up at about 2 pm to help with projects and somehow the house was left a wreck.
Our Day Out With Thomas could have been better. We had originally planned for Jay to be home by the time we went so that I would not have to take 3 kids on my own. Of course, Jay was not home. It was pouring down rain. The kids were super excited (which means they have a hard time listening to instructions). It was really crowded in the Roundhouse because no one wanted to be outside in the pouring rain. Sam screamed when we put him on the train. He has riden the train at the museum before, but for some reason, he didn't want to go yesterday. He threw a fit for a long while. Tommy and Joe were fairly well behaved. Only a few really minor issues like running around.
Jay called early this morning to say his first flight had landed and that he was in Sydney. He is on his way home! We plan on picking him up from the airport late tomorrow night. I wasn't too keen on that plan, but Jay really wants us there.
I am certainly ready for him to be home. We all miss him and I need some time off from the kiddos. Having everyone sick at one time or another really limited how much other people could watch them.
Our Day Out With Thomas could have been better. We had originally planned for Jay to be home by the time we went so that I would not have to take 3 kids on my own. Of course, Jay was not home. It was pouring down rain. The kids were super excited (which means they have a hard time listening to instructions). It was really crowded in the Roundhouse because no one wanted to be outside in the pouring rain. Sam screamed when we put him on the train. He has riden the train at the museum before, but for some reason, he didn't want to go yesterday. He threw a fit for a long while. Tommy and Joe were fairly well behaved. Only a few really minor issues like running around.
Jay called early this morning to say his first flight had landed and that he was in Sydney. He is on his way home! We plan on picking him up from the airport late tomorrow night. I wasn't too keen on that plan, but Jay really wants us there.
I am certainly ready for him to be home. We all miss him and I need some time off from the kiddos. Having everyone sick at one time or another really limited how much other people could watch them.
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