January Wrap Up

Yesterday I registered Case for KG. I actually cried. I can't believe my baby is ready to start school. Well, we still haven't decided if he'll start next year, but if he does I can't believe it. Time flies. Pretty soon he'll be moving out and we won't know where all the years have gone.

This morning he said, "Mommy, when I turn 5 I hope I stay 5 forever." I asked him why he wanted to stay 5 forever. His reply, "Because I don't want to grow up and move away from you and daddy. Then I have to know everything and that's a lot to know."

Melt my heart. I want him to stay 5 forever too!

Lesbians & Brothels!

Jeff and I were able to get away this weekend for a night away. My parents came to town to watch the kids for a night and we headed to Boulder for dinner and a B&B. A while back I won a gift card to Flagstaff House, see here for that story, and we were finally able to use it. It was probably the fanciest and most expensive dinner I've ever had. Thank goodness for the GC but we still forked out more money than I would have liked. Dinner came with palate cleansers between courses and many small things compliments of the chef or pastry chef. We were even given a small loaf of cranberry bread to take home, compliments of the pastry chef. The restaurant sits on the side of the mountain and we had a great view of Boulder and surrounding towns. It was a great experience, complete with two women making out at the table next to us.

Our bed and breakfast, The Alps Boulder Canyon Inn, was also up in the mountains and used to be an old stage coach house. Jeff's pretty sure it was a brothel at one time, hence all the rooms! It had a lot of history and was quite comfy cozy with a fireplace in the room. Breakfast was delish and it was so nice to get away. Thank you mom and dad for driving out and giving us a night away. It was perfect.

January 26 Gift

I haven't ran since October when I finished my 2nd half marathon. I thought I was done running. Then, one of my teacher friends talked me into doing another one in May. Monday I ran for the first time and could hardly make a mile. Today, I did 2.5 miles. It's still a long ways away from 13.1 miles but I'll get there. Just thankful this old body can still do it.

Poopy Pants & Time Outs

I babysit a 2 year old girl every Wednesday. She was potty trained around Christmas time. Today, I was on the phone and I hear her say, "Case, I go poopy in my pants." I quickly get off the phone and go into Case's bathroom where I find poop on the rug, on her shoes, on her legs, in her underwear, everywhere. Right behind me is Siahna. I quickly shut her in Case's room and tell the two of them to stay in there until I'm finished cleaning up. I get things cleaned up and go to get new clothes for little girl. No new underwear, just 1 lonely diaper. So, the diaper goes on and I hope to goodness that she doesn't mess her diaper because there's no back up and her only underwear are dirty. I quickly start a load of laundry. Day goes by. The girls go down for a nap. Little girl wakes up with poops in her pants again. What am I thankful for today....um, that said little girl is getting enough fiber????? Or that I'm just thankful to be making a little extra income. Yes, that is what I remind myself as I'm cleaning up someone else's child.

On another note...Siahna had her first time out today. Scratch that. Make that about seven time outs. She has discovered the joy of climbing up on the dining room chairs and onto the table. While I was switching clothes over from the washer to the drier today, I heard a loud thump on the floor from upstairs. I waited and listened for crying but didn't hear any. All of a sudden Case comes running down. "Mommy, mommy. Siahna fell off the chair and is hurt." I go running up and say, "Are you sure? I don't hear her crying." Case - "She's holding her breath."

Yikes! That was a long time to inhale for the scream. I find her next to the chair and quickly pick her up. She has a big bruise on her forehead and I could tell that she hurt her leg because she wouldn't stand on it. I was pretty sure I was going to have to take her to the ER. I got her calmed down and stretched her leg out and helped her "walk" it off. Bruised, but not broken. Then, I decided she needed to learn the meaning of "No" and put her in the playpen every time she climbed back up there. Doesn't she remember she just fell and hurt herself doing the exact same thing? Seven times in a row she went into time out. What am I supposed to do? Not have chairs at the kitchen table?

Okay, so what am I thankful for here? That she's quick to forget things in her past? That she's willing to get back up again and jump in the saddle? No. I am thankful that she has the ability to climb. Our therapist told us a while back that she worked with a child for 18 months to get the child to sit up. Siahna may be behind, but thank the good Lord it didn't take her 18 months to learn how to sit. It could always be worse I frequently remind myself.

Western Week at Preschool

There are some days that you're just happy to get through. Today is one of those days. Siahna has been stuffed up with a cold and up many times during the night. Last night was one of those nights (hopefully she's back to sleeping through the night soon because my parents are coming out this weekend to watch the kids for a night). She was awake and crying many times during the night. I finally moved downstairs to sleep around 130am after being awakened several times before that. She woke up at 230 screaming which sent me into panic mode being as how I was sound asleep. Then she was up at 530am and ready to go for the day.

As exhausted as she was later in the day, it still took me 2.5 hours to get her down for a nap and then she only slept 10 minutes. After more rocking and crying she slept another 45 minutes. Days like this make me more tired than I already am and grumpy. It's hard to find something to be thankful for on days like today. But, we did have a spaghetti dinner tonight at Case's preschool and that was the highlight of my day! There were games, dancing, spaghetti and cake. All served by all the teachers at the preschool. It was put together well and we enjoyed ourselves.

January 23 Gift

Memories. This afternoon, Case & I snuck away to an antique store while Jeff and Siahna napped (Jeff had the afternoon off as we had Siahna's annual review). There were lots of things that reminded me of my childhood, but two that I had to take pictures of and email to my mom. Shi - do you remember these?

My mom had a red box just like this from when she was a kid that she kept all of her old Barbie dolls in. Shiloh and I played with them and ruined some dolls that are probably pretty valuable today. This red box brought back memories from when I was a little girl.
Mom and dad had these canisters in their kitchen when I was little. I think their couch even matched the canisters (brown, orange, yellow, green).

January 22 Gift

Tonight, Siahna surprised us by shaking her head when we said "No." She's never done that before! And she did it many times at different times during the evening. Word by word we will get there. For this, I am thankful.

January 21 Gift

Today I am thankful for a husband who had to go back to work last night after putting the kids to bed and work until 3am, who still tries to be present even though he's tired and still manages to take down the lights on the house, put the Christmas tree away and all the decor (not sure if that sentence makes sense or not!). He's a keeper!

Worse on Paper than In Person!

I've been a slacker the last few days but we've been super busy. Yesterday afternoon we had an appt. with the genetics people at Children's Hospital. It was basically to meet with them to discuss our family medical history and to determine if there was anything in our history to warrant genetic testing for Siahna. We first met with the nurse and gave her a detailed family history and background on Siahna. Then, the dr. came in. After talking with her for 30 minutes or so and after she observed Siahna for that time, she told us that before she came in she had a long list of things that could be "wrong" with Siahna but as she talked with us and interacted with Siahna, she started crossing those things off her list. Which is when she told us that Siahna is much worse on paper than she is in person. I guess that's a compliment, right? She saw no reason to pursue genetic testing in extreme but had about 4 tests (labwork) that she wants us to do in the next few weeks that could have an underlying genetic cause and to come back in 6 months to re-evaluate unless the tests come back positive for something. Overall, it was encouraging and once again by being at Children's I was reminded that some parents have it much worse and are dealing with life long disabilities with their children. We may be dealing with a life long disability in some respects, but I know Siahna will be able to function in society and will be just fine with or without special help.

I find joy in my sufferings and although I sometimes question God, I remember her smiling face, her determination and her busyness and there is joy there. I think of when I first held her. How excited we were when she first started laughing. The joy that Case brings to her (and us). There is joy in the midst of troubles...sometimes you just have to look for them.

January 17 Gift

I guess I should be thankful today that I'm even considering registering for another half marathon. Crazy, I know! January 25 is the price increase so I guess I have until then. Why do I have such crazy friends who try to talk me into these things? Holly - it's May 20, don't you want to spend your birthday out here running a half with me? :)

January 16 Gift

Thankful that my daughter is busy. Busy climbing in, out and on everything. Today, I found her on top of the kitchen table. :)

Here, she climbed up on the kitchen ladder and was helping herself to popcorn.
She can always be found climbing the ladder to Case's bunkbed so we try really hard to keep his door closed or to remove his ladder in the morning for the day.
Often, she takes the shoes out of the shoe basket and climbs on in.
Her new thing is to pull out the drawer under the stove and pull herself up to see what I'm cooking. Dangerous, yes! I've started putting her in her playpen when I cook to keep her from touching something hot.

She is busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

January 15 Gift

I've never been one for going out of my way to make new friends but today at church I felt this real pulling towards this couple. I was checking the kids in to their classrooms and this couple came upstairs and I heard the guy say that they were new and didn't know what to do. I tried to help them but then our children's pastor came in and took over. I saw them later come in to the chapel and all through the service I kept thinking about them. I found them after church and invited them to lunch with us and another couple that we usually have lunch with. I knew that if that would have been my first day at church, where it's crowded and you don't know what to do, I probably wouldn't have come back. I don't know if they'll come back but I'm thankful that they came and that we were able to get to know them a little bit.

January 14 Gift

Thankful for the opportunity to get a massage. Although, I'm much more sore now, but I guess that's good, right?

January 13 Gift

This morning, the kids and I visited a nursing home and took cookies to some of the residents. One of the ladies from our small group has a grandmother who lives there. It was nice and totally brightened their day. Although there was one lady who when she saw us, covered her head and yelled out "$h*t." Then she yelled for help from one of the nurses and wanted to be taken away. Not sure if she doesn't like kids or if we frightened her or what, but that was kind of an unusual response.

Long story short. Case took 4 matchbox cars to share with the other little boys who came. One of the boys, same age as Case, made me so thankful for a well behaved child. He took all the cars away from Case and the other little boy and thought it was hilarious that they wanted the cars back and refused to give them back until an adult stepped in. Then, when we were outside, he threw them in the snow, then ran to get the car out of the snow and licked it, then threw it back in the snow. Already at the age of 4, he's a bully and my child is being bullied. But, it made me thankful for my little boy and that he's a good friend and turns to adults for help.

January 12 Gift

Thankful for a sister who will babysit so we can go to a movie. A very long movie! We saw The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. It was good, although disappointing that they gave away things from book 2 that I haven't read yet. Guess the last two books aren't becoming movies so they had to tie up loose strings. And, I always wonder why movies change things from the book when the book is so much better?

Weird

Check out this article I came across today. This guy is a total whack job! Who does that?

January 11 Gift

Thankful for a son who will apologize to his daddy when he wasn't very nice and hurt his daddy's feelings.

January 10 Gift

It's official (kind of) and you're the first to know...Jeff and I decided last night that I'll be resigning my position as a teacher next year and won't be going back to work indefinitely. Yikes! The decision has been made and I really think it's the best thing for Siahna, but I just can't bring myself to fill out the paperwork and mail it in. It's hard to give up your career (and income). However, I'm so thankful that Jeff has a job that allows me to stay home and allows him to participate in her therapy during the lunch hour. And let's be honest, who wouldn't want to stay home and eat bon-bon's and watch Oprah all day (that's what Jeff thinks I do!).

January 7, 8 & 9 Gifts

January 7 - Thankful that my siblings all live close enough that we can do Christmas together even if it is weeks later.

January 8 - Thankful that Jeff doesn't make me drive on the way home from NE so I can read my book (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - can't put it down) till dark and then watch Big Love on my computer. This trip went by super fast!

January 9 - How did people ever survive without a washing machine and dryer years ago? I can't imagine finding the time to hand wash all the clothes we dirty. I suppose we'd wear clothes multiple times before determining that it was dirty, but still.

What are you thankful for today? Leave a comment. I'd love to hear each day.

January 6 Gift

My gift today is that we didn't run out of gas on our way to NE. We were almost at empty when we left Denver and Jeff thought we could make it to Ft Morgan. The gas light came on 47 miles from Fr Morgan...which means you have about 40 miles left. Thankfully, he felt the need to stop earlier and full up.

January 5 Gift

You don't know how bad you've got it until you find something so much better! Case started his new pre-school today and although he was crying and holding on to me and the teacher had to pull him off of me when I left, he had a great first day. The gift of a quality pre-school. I can tell I already like this school compared to what he was doing at the rec center. He came home with a paper that he actually had to think about in order to complete. He made a new friend, Liam, and already wants to have a play date because Liam has Mario pj's that he wants to show him!

Two things we have to work on at home: using scissors and writing his name.

January 4 Gift

I had the gift of reading my book for over an hour today as my daughter took over a two hour nap!!!

On another note, I got a call from my principal this afternoon asking what my thoughts were for this next school year. I need to make a decision by Feb. 15 on whether or not I want to go back (more than likely to part-time teaching remedial math, blah). I feel like staying home has been the best thing for Siahna and at this point, I couldn't imagine putting her in daycare with her "peers" when she still has gaps. On the other hand, working part-time wouldn't be so bad either because she wouldn't be in daycare all day and I wouldn't have to go to all the meetings and whatnot. Decisions, decisions.

January 3 Gift

Today my gift is that I can stay home and not have to call in sick when my daughter throws up all over me, the curtains, the floor, the highchair, the heater vent, the trash can, the dining room chair and herself. Its been quite the morning!

Each Day Is A Gift

One of our mentor mom's at my MOPS group gave a devotional in December where she encouraged us to look for the gift in each day. Sometimes the gift would simply be that we made it through the day. She even gave us a little book to write each day's gift in. So, I thought why not blog about my gift each day - and now I'm already a day behind!

January 1 gift - having a day to stay in my pj's until 2pm and hang out with my kids and husband.

January 2 gift - thankful for the opportunity and ability to workout at the gym...recently, my mom asked if I wanted to store her snow ski's here and use them should we ever have the chance to go skiing again. While she was very emotional at giving up her ski's due to her physical limitations, I couldn't help but think at what a gift it is that she and my dad are not wheelchair bound. Just a few years ago, mom was having back surgery and we didn't know if she'd be able to walk when it was all said and done. I remember spending the week with her after her surgery and going to different stores to buy handicap accessories to help her as she recovered from surgery. Today, she is as active as ever and that is a gift. The same can be said for my dad. Many people with MS have worse symptoms than he does and he could very easily be in a wheelchair right now. Thankfully, he is still walking and being active. I think a positive attitude is its own medicine.