Monday: made it

Joshua had a rough day today.  I'm not really sure what was going on, but it seemed as though anything that I did was wrong.

However, there was one time where he wouldn't stop giving Isaac hugs and kisses.  Isaac wasn't so excited, especially about the "baby spit", but was a good sport.

They even wrestled a little bit and there was only laughter.

Weekend pictures

Playing with the monitor.

Discovering fun things.

Jumping.  Isaac had a great time at a trampoline place.

More jumping.

Joshua running.  He never seemed to quite trust the trampoline, even after the 30 minutes he spent just watching.  So he walked the blue part and then did a quick circle on the trampoline, only to hurry back to the safety of the blue part.

With Jameson, the real reason we went down for a visit.

Joshua going down a slide at a cafe/play place.

Being an alien.  Joshua really missed Ben while we were gone and wanted to be with him any time he saw Ben.

Thursday: snow day

So...the big storm didn't hit us.  We got maybe for inched if snow.  But I thought I'd double check the school closings this morning, only to find out that daycare was closed.  Really??  I had been planning on getting a lot fine today.  (Turns out that the south side of town got about 10", but I'm still not convinced it should have been closed.)

However, the boys were really good.  I still didn't get as much done as I was hoping, but did make progress.

It helped that Joshua played with the monitor for close to two hours.  Then Isaac played with it for about a half hour.  They both played with sand.

Isaac packed his suitcase because the boys, aunt c, and I were going to see Nathan and family...it had about seven cups (some for Joshua), a game, a hand full of Duplos, My Friend (a toy), and some rings.  (Clothes went in a different suitcase.)

Wednesday: kids

Hmm.  I feel like my blog posts are pretty much all about the kids lately.  To be fair, I am with them a lot.  I'm just going to go with it, I guess.


Joshua ran into a wall corner today.  I was a bit surprised that there was no blood when I picked him up.  I was especially surprised five minutes later when I got a good look at the thing...it looks like it should have bled but must have just missed puncturing the skin.  I do find it rather funny that the bruise is a line.  We know exactly where he hit the wall.

Isaac is getting better in the kitchen.  Yesterday was his first time pouring by himself.  (There wasn't a lot of extra in the bottle so I knew that even if he spilled it wouldn't be a disaster.)  Today he did a pretty good job of scooping some spices from their jars.  For some reason he doesn't completely seem to understand that you need to fill up the spoon with the spice before it's enough, but we're working on it.

Monday: no head injuries here!

The day started out...poorly.  I missed a text to cancel a get together so we were already out with our winter stuff on but hadn't really done anything.  So I thought we should deliver the association dues and that Isaac could ride his bike.  It was a good idea.  I calmed down.  Isaac did an awesome job pedaling.  He needed some help on our street but once we got to a smoother street he was able to do several rotations in a row.

Joshua saw Isaac put his helmet on and wanted his helmet too.  So Joshua walked with his helmet.

Then Joshua ate his morning snack on with his helmet.  (The video isn't really that interesting.  Joshua had been stirring something in the bowl but then stopped.  He did get his eating area all ready though!)


Joshua was required to take off his helmet for nap time and grocery time, but once we got home he wanted it right back on again.

For playing Ipad (with his quilt!)

and for playing with sand.

Ben was then able to take it off right before dinner.  Of course, the TV didn't turn on quite correctly and so instead of asking for help right away Isaac turned up the volume from 50 to 99.  After Ben got the sound going it blared right at Joshua, scaring him to pieces.  It would have been a good time to have his helmet on.

Sunday: reasons to be sad

Isaac was sad tonight because all the snow melted.  Ben was playing the piano, and Isaac asked him to play a sad song (i.e., the low notes) because he was so sad.

Joshua was sad because he wouldn't take a nap.  I thought he'd take a great one; he slept rather poorly and was up early.  But no.  Instead he took a five minute nap in nursery and called it good.  He held it together better than I was expecting, but it still wasn't as good as normal.

And a reason to be happy?  Our house is clean.  I don't feel stressed out (too much) when it's a mess but it sure is calming to have it clean.

Saturday: counting backwards

It often goes like this:

Isaac: How many days until Busy World?
Amanda gives some number that is probably higher than the real one.
Isaac: Can you could from that number to 1?
Amanda: 80, 79, 78...

Today Ben was in the car too and suddenly said, "You missed 44!"
I told him counting backwards from such a large number is hard.  My cadence is all messed up...I usually emphasize the multiple of ten number and take a breath after it.  But if I take a breath between, say 31 and 30 it feels weird.   But if I take a breath between 30 and 29 I don't emphasize the multiple of ten.

I told him to try it.  He did it with no problem at all.

So what about you?  Easy or hard?

Friday: an often seen sight

1) The laundry baskets are still there.  (The pot holder migrated into Joshua's room.)

2) Isaac is running around the couch.  He probably does about 20 laps on an average day.

3) Joshua is eating.  He loves his snacks.

In other news, it was a super warm day.  The day started with quite a bit of snow and ended with almost none.  Our decision to not shovel the end of the driveway was the correct one; the bump is almost gone!

Thursday: success

I, somehow, successfully managed to finish all my necessary work while at work today.  I even did a few of the items that were "I really should do these if I ever have time."

It was rather awesome.

Wednesday: a rarely seen sight

Two empty laundry baskets!  I left them there so we could enjoy their emptiness, but there is plenty of dirty laundry ready to go back in.

Also note the pot holder on the floor.  Note that I should have picked it up, but didn't.  It moved around the house today, at one time a slipper.

Tuesday: winter break

Today was winter break.  I got more work done than I was expecting; apparently I've been somewhat keeping up so that helped too.


Joshua setting the table runner.

Isaac taking a quick running break.  He was so, so weepy this morning.  Probably the weepiest I've ever seen him.  Everything I did was wrong, especially cutting his donut as he wanted a circle one.  We had so many tears in the hour before school.  However, he seemed to be his normal self after school.

Monday: unexpected

Today did not go as expected.  I think I expected to get groceries.  Instead I dealt with the flat tire and sickness.

The flat tire:
Cons: the tire was flat, and so the kids and I spent a little over an hour waiting for it to be fixed.
Pros: It was flat in the garage, I have now changed out a tire all by myself, I've figured out how to get the jack out of the trunk (Ben actually figured it out.), the waiting room had a nice play area, they were able to patch the tire, and there was no where else I needed to be today.

Isaac got a virus or something which made it very painful to walk on his right leg.
Cons: Isaac didn't walk for most of the day and there were several bathroom accidents.
Pros: Isaac was a trooper...although I think the extra TV and Ipad time probably helped, I talked to a nurse without having to wait long on the phone and she suggested not coming in, he was doing much better around dinner time, and I didn't have to work today.

I'm pretty sure I was a funny sight at the fix-it shop though; carrying the eldest child and making the younger one walk.

Sunday: foiled

I was getting everyone out the door for church - and, admittedly, running late - when I saw it.  A flat tire.  Bother.  I had been trying, trying, trying, to get everything together and now this.  I could have changed the car seats to the other car, but I was running late.  Really, but the time that was done and we got there it would have been rather late.  However, as I reminded myself while calming down from dashing everywhere, at least it is only an annoyance, not a catastrophe.

So we were going to watch a sermon from a previous week on the computer.  After about five minutes the video wouldn't go any farther.  Foiled again.

The good news is that I wasn't told "Joshua touched me" so many times. today.  I finally told Isaac that Joshua touched him because he was trying to play with him and so Isaac should give him a hug.  Now, if told "Joshua touched me" I just say, "what should you do?"  I figure if Joshua doesn't want the hugs he'll quickly learn to not touch Isaac.

Saturday: silly kids

Isaac: hey Dad, can you be a silly statue?  It's a statue that moves.
Ben: uh, sure.  Where did you learn about silly statues?
Isaac: my tummy

Joshua bonks his head on the hard part of the couch.
Ben rubs it.
Joshua bonks his head on the soft part of the couch.
Joshua puts Ben's hand on his head to rub it.
Joshua bonks his head on a blanket.
Joshua puts Ben's hand on his head to rub it...

Friday: touching

I've heard a lot of "Mom, make Joshua stop touching me" lately.  Most of the time it is Joshua trying to get Isaac to play with him in a toddler way, which Isaac just sees as annoying.

But then, maybe once or twice a day, they get along.  Once today they ran around the couch, chasing each other.  Once was at story time, when Joshua bumped into Isaac's knee and Isaac just put his hand around Joshua.  (However, it only lasted a minute and then Joshua didn't want to be confined by his brother's hand and Isaac didn't want to be touched anymore anyway.)

I pray quite hard that this relationship is one that flourishes.  I'd like it to be strong, and think it is more important than having a good relationship with Ben and me.  But it will take some time. :)

Thursday: up early!

We put the kids to bed early yesterday.  The main reason is that Joshua seems to drag a bit at school and Thursdays are the extra early day.  Not a lot early, just a half hour or so.

But as I was getting up extra extra early to deal with the snow, Joshua decided to wake up too.  Normally I'd just take him into bed with me, but as I had all my winter stuff on I left Ben to take care of it.  When I got back Joshua wasn't quite asleep yet, and wanted to come to me.  However, it was a bit easier to wake up Isaac.

Needless to say, when we got home I turned on the TV for the kids and took several short naps on the couch.  Isaac cuddled with me the whole time.  (Side note: I've been taking many fewer naps lately.  Two weeks ago I think I only had 1.5 the whole week!  But then with all the sickness stuff last week they've been a bit more frequent this week.)

Wednesday: snow

Two days ago I was lamenting the lack of snow.  We now have some. :)

We actually received a surprising amount last night...about 4-6".  Not a ton, but enough that side roads could be difficult.  Isaac and I had a dentist appointment at 9am.  I rushed around trying to get everything ready so that we could leave a bit earlier than planned, as the roads would probably be slow.

I got on the east-west road that brings us to the office and was glad we had hurried.  It is a two lane road, but only the left side was clear.  We continue on.  We cross the highway.  We get to the next big intersection with similar conditions.  The following big intersection starts to show a decrease in snow.  By the following major intersection, the sun was starting to peak out and you could almost see the top of the grass in places.  So in two miles the conditions changed completely.  It was so odd.

We continued to get a little snow throughout the day and I don't think the snowplows came by yet.  We're supposed to get more overnight.  I'll admit, snow blowing the driveway on a day I already need to get up early is not really all that fun.  Even though I do love the snow.

Tuesday: it starts with...

Lately Isaac has been doing a great job of sounding out the first letter of words; I think I've mentioned that.  Sometimes it surprises me because they just reached P at school, but it seems as though he can do the whole alphabet.  The conversation usually goes like this...

Someone (me, Isaac, Ben): What does bear start with?
Isaac: bu-bu-bu B!

But then yesterday I asked him what frog started with and he said F.  Instantly.  No thinking, no sounding it out...he just knew it.  It happened a few minutes later with another word too, but I forgot what it was.

In other news, there haven't been pomegranates at the store in a long while.  I had been hoping to bring them to school for P week.

In other other news, I want to declare that I hate trying to find new items in the health and beauty aisles at Meijer.  I can never do it.  It tends to either take about ten minutes or three trips before I finally find them.  It always boggles my mind because the aisles are well labeled.  (Yesterday was saline.  I left without it.  But I finally saw nail polish remover...after about six months and getting it at the dollar store.)

Monday: patent

Congrats to Ben for his patent on "System and method for periodic lane marker identification and tracking".

Sunday: at home

We all stayed home today.  It seemed the smart thing to do after yesterday, when no one was feeling very good.  No one seems worse...Ben' wrist still hurts but isn't getting worse.  Isaac seems to be recovered.  Joshua has a runny nose and wanted his nebulizer medicine today, but it didn't really seem as though he needed it.  (I hid it away so that he won't remember it tomorrow.)  I took a wonderful nap this morning and started the pre-fever symptoms around 4pm, so Ben just told me to take some medicine.  Now I feel fine.  Yay medicine.

I just watched the last episode of Gilmore Girls.  I started watching it when I didn't have any audiobooks to listen to and got hooked.  The last episode was so sad...my boys are going to leave me too.  And if they're anything like me, they'll look back but not for very long.  (Sorry Dad.  I love you!)  Parenting does give one a different perspective, but I also will remember that they just won't have my perspective; they will just be excited about the next thing they'll be doing.  And that is how it should be.

Saturday: 4 for 4

Wednesday: Ben sprained his wrist and ended up at urgent care.

Thursday: Joshua came down with pneumonia.

Friday: Isaac didn't feel well after his shots.

Saturday: Amanda got a fever, Isaac still wasn't his normal self.

Sigh.  Hopefully we'll either be done tomorrow or we'll end up at the vet's because Flurry doesn't want to miss out on the family action.

Friday: well child visits

Today we had our well child visits.

Isaac's weight is at the 40th percentile and height at the 47% percentile...right on track with what was measured last year.  He hit all the milestones the doctor asked about, except for being able to hop on one foot.  (And the milestones seemed surprising, actually.  I feel as though he had hit most of them last year.)  He got three shots and one of them bothered him all day; he fell asleep in the car when we were picking up Ben and he rarely does that anymore.

He dragged his quilt off his bed to use while watching TV.

Joshua comes in at the 4th percentile for weight and the 40th for height.  We forgot to look at the charts, but I think the weight is similar to what it has been.  Joshua's lungs sounded good, so the medicines are working.  Joshua did not get his vaccinations since he's still sick.  He also hit all the milestones that the doctor asked about.

Joshua seems to enjoy the mask medicine.  We'll tell him it's time for the mask medicine and he goes right to the chair and tells us the nebulizer isn't set up.  It makes me wonder if it makes him feel that much better or if he just likes the process.  Ben was trying to get Joshua to write his name this evening and had Joshua say the letters back to him as they were writing.  We heard very clear Js, Os, Ss and Hs.

Time to pray!

Tuesday: sick

Last night Joshua came down with croup.  Isaac has had it before, although not quite this bad, but I kind of knew what to expect.

I brought him to daycare, but wasn't sure he would stay.  The teacher suggested that he not stay, so my backup plan was to just bring him with me.  He went in the carrier.  During the morning I thought it wasn't a bad thing to keep him out of daycare...he was a bit sleepy and lethargic, but part of me thought he probably would have been ok.

Then, in the middle of the next class something happened and I decided he was not ok.  I'm not really sure what it was...maybe a cough that sounded different?  Anyway, I made a doctor's appointment.

We went and by that time I was so glad that we did.  He had a temperature and was so lethargic and his breathing was rather laboured.  Well, the NP gave him a steriod, a gas to breathe (I forgot what it was) and a prescription for more gas, the gas machine, and an antibiotic.  Wowzers.  We came home and gave him Tynenol.

By dinner time he had started to perk up.  His breathing was still not so good, but he was running around and we even saw some smiles.  (Not the best idea, but try telling that to a one year old.)

Here's hoping to a good night that isn't spent on the couch.

Tuesday: storm and Isaac quotes

We had a wonderful storm here tonight...a thunder storm.  With rain.  I love rain, and I love thunder storms, but it would have been a really, really cool snow storm.  It makes me a little sad.

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Yesterday morning Isaac said, "I don't feel good when I have a baby in my tummy either."  It was a bit funny because he was talking about conversations from Sunday, when we met with a bunch of people that are pregnant.  (We're not.) (It was just a coincidence.)  I was a bit surprised that he had picked up on the topic since he wasn't near us very much and that he remembered.  But hey, he probably wouldn't feel good with a baby in his tummy.

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As we were getting in the car this morning Isaac starting asking what would happen in the plants were covered with dust.  I said they would probably die and started going into photosynthesis.  Then he said the plants might turn bad and spiky.  Hmm...ok.  He kept talking.

Then, about three minutes into the conversation, Isaac said, "Perry was in the bag and Doofenshmirtz spread the dust and then the plants captured him but Perry escaped and came back to cut the plants and save Doofenshmirtz.  Why does [Doofenshmirtz] call him Perry the platypus?"

"Sometimes people have more than one name, like you.  You're Isaac and Puppy-dog"

"Yeah.  I'm Isaac puppy dog and puppy dog.  (Pause.) And sometimes Isaac."

For the record, we saw this episode of Phineas and Ferb about a month ago.

49 months

Isaac turned 49 months a few days ago.

Attitude: we ended the month better than we started the month.  There is still a lack of focus, which frustrates Ben and me, but not so much blatant non-listening.  Beyond that he is still very silly and will laugh at the drop of a hat.  [Probably literally, although I haven't actually tried it.]

Learning: I'm so happy with how much he is learning academically.   He still sounds out the first letter of words and gets them.  The other day he read "Off" and "Go" without any context (and "on" and "stop" after the former ones).  I'm sure there are other words he knows, I just haven't found them yet.  He can mostly count 1-20 but does get stuck on 12.  Listening him count backwards from 10 is pretty funny...he mostly gets it but not completely.  He knows that 100 and million and billion are big numbers.

Socializing: We've noticed Isaac tends to play by himself when by other kids, but that isn't always the case.  As I've been watching more closely I see him playing with others too, just not as much as by himself.  (Which is fine.  Both in moderation, right?)  I think he likes school except for the nap time...nap time really breaks it for him.  But he happily goes into the class room.

Imagination: He is still a puppy dog.  (Joshua called him Isaac the other day and Ben and I were so proud and Isaac yells over "My name is Puppy Dog!")  However, there hasn't been as much actually being a puppy again this month.  He still loves playing imagination games like Castle and Bucky the pirate ship and takes an hour to get dressed, probably because he is playing with them.

Doing stuff by himself: This past month we celebrated his complete independence with the toilet.  He likes to use the TV remote and does a good job with the new one we have.  He can make his own tasty water.  He can do lego instructions as long as there are a limited number of pieces (so only the pieces for a few of the steps at a time).

(He likes his new quilt because it's soft.)