Eric

Eric, this blog post is just for you. On Sunday, you will be 16 months old! How time flies! You are such an amazing little man. When I think about how the doctor is concerned about you developing slower than other kids your age, I can't help but think about what's going on in your little head. You are so intelligent and observant. You know exactly what's going on and how to get what you want. You take in all that is around you. You are starting to really look at books now. You love looking at pictures on the wall, especially those of Jesus, whose name you are starting to sound out. You recognize your grandparents in the pictures and even your grandfather who passed away before you were born. Sometimes Daddy and I think you remember him from your pre-existance. Yesterday, you pulled yourself up for the first time! Daddy and I were so proud of you. Today you did it again and walked two steps while holding on to the couch. I was so happy for you. Soon you will realize that you can get places a lot faster when you are walking or running. Crawling will be a thing of the past and your knees will get smooth again. I can't believe how rough they are from you crawling so much. They don't seem to bother you though so I'm not worried. Oh, and you do the funniest thing. When you and I are in a room together (like the bathroom or bedroom), you shut the door and kinda laugh. I think you like when it's just me and you together. I know you love playing with your brother and sister, but I know they get on your nerves sometimes too. Jenny's tantrums and Cameron's sirens. They would annoy anyone, believe me. Oh, and another thing you just starting doing recently- you give me your cup when you want more. It's so cute! I'm trying to teach you how to say "more" or "milk", but you will have none of that. You also are not interested in sign language which I have been trying to teach you, albeit not consistantly, since you were eight months old. I guess you just want to communicate your way. That's fine for now. It works for us. I love you so much little man. You bring so much joy into my life and into my days. When I am stressed out, you balance me. Your brother and sister can't say that. They drive me nuts. You are going to grow up to be an amazing person. You have so much spirit and fire in you. You are going to do wonderful things in your life. But for now, just continue being you. Stay young as long as you can and enjoy your innocence. Mommy and Daddy love you and will always be there for you. Keep brightening our days!

Potty Training Boot Camp- Day 5

Jenny is doing really well with her potty training. The only time she pees in her pullup is either during the night or when she first wakes up (I haven't determined that yet). She just having issues with the poopy thing. I'm sure it'll come with time. I was supposed to go visit my sister this weekend, but the kids are all sick so I'm going to stay home and make sure they are better by Monday so Cameron can go back to preschool. This will also give Scott and I a chance to get things done around the house. Our home is still in disarray from the flood. We really need to get Eric out of our bedroom. I think it'll be better for everyone. I'm bummed that I can't go to Jersey this weekend, but I'm hoping that I can go next weekend if I can find a substitute for my Sunbeams class. We shall see.

I had a really nice Mother's Day that I neglected to write about. Scott let me sleep in and brought me breakfast in bed. He also got the kids ready for church so I just had to worry about getting myself ready (we were still late). He made me a nice lunch of shrimp cocktail (my favorite) and antipasto salad. We all took a nap- Scott got up when the first child got up. I woke up with Cameron's arm around me which was really sweet. Scott took a picture, but I look really fat when I'm sleeping so I'm not going to post it. Then he made me a dinner of salad, bacon wrapped scallops, and rice. He got me my favorite Ben and Jerry's ice cream for dessert- Phish Food. And for gifts, I got the two things I asked for: the One Tree Hill soundtrack (that show is my new guilty pleasure, especially since Gilmore Girls is no more) and the Because I Said So DVD. I haven't watched it yet. Maybe this weekend.

I need to figure out what the kids and I should get Scott for Father's Day. We have to top what they did for me. Any ideas out there?

Potty Training Update- Day 3

Jenny is doing a fantastic job with her potty training! She went pee pee on the potty all day today-except for first thing in the morning. My only problem with her is the poopy. She has had problems with pooping for years now. She holds it in so we have to give her a prescription laxative. Now I haven't given her the laxative in almost two weeks and she's still leaking. So I find streaks of poop on things like my favorite fleece blanket and Scott's pillow. It's really irritating and frustrating and it's not her fault. I don't yell at her, but I know she knows I'm mad about it. So right now she has a pullup on and I'm trying to keep reminding her to go on the potty. Tomorrow will be the real test when we go out. And I'm going back to Jersey this weekend and I really hope Scott keeps up with it. Jenny and I can't afford to backtrack. I'm trying to keep cool during this potty training thing, but it's really hard and Scott isn't being very understanding. He's not home all day. He doesn't know what's going on here and he doesn't seem to care unless it affects him. I'm curious to see how he does this weekend. Apparently, I don't do anything all day, so I can't wait to see how he won't do anything all day. Last time I went to Jersey, he got called in to work all weekend so my mother-in-law watched the kids so nothing got done anyway. Let's see what gets done this weekend.

Potty Training Update

So after a somewhat frustrating day yesterday, Jenny is doing really well today. Cameron was sick yesterday and we finally brought him to the doctor last night (which kinda screwed up the potty training thing with Jenny). He was diagnosed with croup and was given steroids. We then took a trip to the store to get a humidifier and some cough medicine. He's still kind of blah, but he is feeling better. As for Jenny...this morning we left the diaper off and while I was in the shower, she went pee pee on her potty all by herself! Then she went poopy on it three times after that! Two poopies stuck to her butt, one was a good one and made it into the potty. She wanted to wear her underwear, so we put it on and within a few minutes she went over to the potty, pulled her underwear down, and went pee pee. It was really amazing. She then had an accident a short time later, but it's okay. She's doing really well. So as of now, we are keeping the diapers/pullups/underwear off. She's still not too happy about it, but she's handling it pretty well considering her personality. She's a tough one I tell ya. Wish me luck.

The New Babies!!!

What a cute family!

My sister, Angela, Pat, Anna and Eva

Potty Training Boot Camp

Today is Potty Training Boot Camp Day at our house. Cameron is home sick from preschool and I am not running errands today, so I figured this would be a perfect day for Jenny to seriously aquaint herself with the potty. She has sat on it before and went peepee and poopy in it, but never stuck with it. Today, however, is going to be different. Today, Jenny will not wear a diaper or a pull-up. She's going to go naked until she is able to listen to her body. That's what we did with Cameron a year ago and since they are a year apart, I figured that she's more than ready. She was a little upset about not wearing a diaper today telling me that her butt was going to be cold, so I gave her a towel to sit on or wrap herself in, but she was told not to pee or poop on it. Also, we hung her Care Bear underwear and My Little Pony underwear up above the TV so she could see what we're working towards. She also wants to go to preschool and gymnastics, but she can't go until she's potty trained so I'm hoping that those incentives will be enough to push her in the right direction. Jenny is a very headstrong little girl so I have to come up with creative ways to get through to her and motivate her. Oh, and we also have a sticker chart going too. When Cameron and Jennifer fill up their charts, they can get a toy. In addition to that, Jenny knows that once she is potty trained, she can go to the toy store and get anything she wants. Any one thing that is. Cameron wanted a crane in the worst way and when he was going pee pee consistantly, we got him one. A Tonka one from ebay because that's the only place I was able to find one. He still plays with it almost everyday. So anyway, we'll see how today goes. I'm really hoping it goes as well as Cameron's potty training went. I think there's something to be said about waiting until they are ready, or past ready for that matter. And waiting until I'm ready too. After all, I'm the coach right? Hopefully, she'll be in underwear by the end of the week. Dream big, I always say.

The Results Are In

So after two sets of x-rays, a bone scan, an MRI, and over two months of pain and frustration, the foot and ankle specialist finally gave me some answers today. The diagnosis: a stress fracture. DUH! The fracture is actually in one of my ankle bones and not my foot like the other doctor thought. So I can either wear the sexy boot or sneakers that are very supportive and I have to rest. It's going to take months to heal though. Fun. I guess this will be a summer of no flip-flops. Bummer.

Onto other things...Sunday was Fast and Testimony Sunday and I desperately wanted to bear my testimony, but I was in Jersey helping my sister. So for anyone reading this and for my children who may read this someday, I just want to say how grateful I am for the Holy Ghost. When I was teaching my Sunbeam class about the Holy Ghost, I explained to them that the Holy Ghost is also called the Comforter because Jesus wanted his disciples to be comforted after His crucifixion. When everything happened with my sister, I was so scared. I didn't know if she was going to die or if the babies were going to die or what was going on. But when I walked into her room and saw her, I felt the Spirit so strong and I knew that everything was going to be alright. I cried, but it was because I didn't want her to go through what she was going through. It wasn't because I was scared. Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father sent the Holy Ghost to comfort me and that is a feeling I cannot describe. I am so grateful for the knowledge and understanding that this Church has given me. And I am grateful to Heavenly Father for hearing my prayers and answering them in a way I can recognize. I know in my heart that this Church is true and that the Book of Mormon is true and I leave this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Oh the Drama!

There has been so much drama in my life lately. First, a few weeks ago during our monsoon, our basement flooded. Since our bedroom and the playroom were down there, we were frantic trying to prevent the water from traveling to the finished side of the basement. Well, there's not much you can do in the middle of the night except pray and start moving stuff upstairs. So that's what we did. Our house is still in disarray. All of the toys in the playroom are pushed up against the wall farthest from where the water was. We slept on the couch for a week until we got things settled upstairs. Now we are in the master bedroom upstairs (where Scott was replacing a window at the time of the flood so now there's a new window, but no drywall around it) with Eric and the kids are in the small middle room. The extra room is full of dressers that won't fit anywhere else right now. So hopefully in the next week or two Eric and Cameron will be together and Jenny will be in her own room and Scott and I will be alone for the first time in I don't know how long. You may be wondering what has been taking us so long. After all the flood was a few weeks ago....

I got a phone call at 1am on the 23rd from my mom telling me that my sister was having an emergency c-section and the babies were in distress. I was up all night waiting for updates until 4am when I decided to go down to Jersey with my mom. Angela had to be airlifted to a different hospital because of major complications. There was a hematoma on her liver that ruptured causing her to bleed internally. Had she not gotten to the hospital when she did, she would have died. The babies, Anna and Eva, were born without heartbeats. They were both resusitated and after a few days on respirators, they are now breathing on their own. They are doing wonderfully and the doctors and nurses are optimistic that there is no permanent brain damage (from the lack of oxygen). My sister came home from the hospital Monday and is also doing very well. She is in a lot of pain still and is missing her babies. Once everyone is home and settled, I will call it a miracle. I have never prayed so hard in my life. So I'm going down to Jersey again tonight for the weekend to take care of my sister. She needs a lot of help.

You want some more drama? My brother-in-law, Dave, not Angela's husband, had a heart attack the day after the babies were born. And my other brother-in-law's, Angela's husband Pat, brother and his wife were in a car accident on the way home from seeing Angela. Everyone is okay now, but man, what a freakin week we had. I'm still recovering.

Oh and I had an MRI yesterday on my foot. I've been to two doctors, had two sets of x-rays and a bone scan and no one seems to know what is wrong with my foot. It's a big mystery. So maybe next week I'll have some answers or I'll just keep limping around for the rest of my life.