next...

I tell you what.  Aiden loves his brother.  He wants to play with him, I can see it.  He always looks around for Michael, and just laughs nd smiles when Michael plays talks to or kisses him.  

We had a good day despite being a bit late for school.  I have got the bedtime thing down.  I put Michael in his bed at 7:45 no matter what.  I read him a couple of stories with Aiden trying to rip apart the pages of the book, and then we pray and give kisses and hugs all around.  Then I take his cool cars blanket and spread it over him and tell him I will be back to check on him later.  He falls asleep pretty fast.  Aiden's a little harder to get to sleep, but tonight was actually very smooth.  Everything has been going nicely the past couple of days.  I think that God has given me a bit of a break, and I appreciate it.  School is good, and it makes the entire week fly by, so that is another reason I enjoy it.  Michael got an icecream cone fter school today because he has been so sweet and good for the whole week so far.  I had initially told him that I would get him a drink, and when I told him that we might get one next time, he just started to silent cry.  It was the kind where he wasn't going to argue with me, but he was sad that he wouldn't be getting what he really wanted.  So I turned around to him and told him to listen.  I said Michael, I am going to get you an icecream cone because you have been such a sweet and obiedient boy for the past week.  You have had good manners, and you obeyed, and I love you so much.  That is why I am going to buy you an icecream cone.  I wish you could have seen the look on his face.  It made me want to cry it was so sweet.  He just said thank you so sweetly.  Let me tell you, he ate that thing so fast, and without a brainfreeze.  By the time I got home it was almost down to the cone part.  Sonic is only down the street!  He went in the house and sat down and finished it off!  No mess anywhere.  After a while, he went out to play in the backyard and randi joined him for a little bit before she left.  He just sat back in a corner of the yard with dirt and played hard.  I need to get him more sand.

Tonight Michael took a bath right before he went to bed because he had been playing in the dirt in the backyard.  When it was time to get out he started to whine and I calmy told him that if he wanted to have time for me to read stories he would need to get out and I would be waiting for him in his room.  He got a bit frustrated and started to cry his hurt feelings cry which starts out silent as tears well up in his eyes and then turns to a sound that sounds like he can't breathe.  It is actually very sad and moving.  I just looked at him and said, I know that is frustrating, but I'll be waiting in your room with your towel.  He got out and followed me and whimpered a couple of times.  I asked him what was wrong.  He just shook his head and in a whimpy, cracked voice said "I am just so frustcrated ( frustrated). "  It was so sad and funny.  I got him dressed for bed and he and Aiden rolled around on the bed together and Aiden just laughed at his silly brother.  It was sweet.

Hope everyone has a good day tomorrow. night

Newsday...

Today started nice and early for me.  I was woken up at 5:30 by Aiden and he would not go back to sleep.  I stayed in bed with the lights off any way and hoped he would go back to sleep.  Then Michael came strolling in at 6, awake as he could be.  I let him get in bed with us, and I drifted in and out of sleep while Michael entertained Aiden for maybe thirty min.  Then since both of them didn't go back to sleep, I decided to go ahead and get up and take a shower.  I put Aiden in the bouncer while Michael went in and out of the bathroom asking me for food, and if he could get in the shower.  I told him that he had to wait until I was finished.  So he got himself a blue bar (choc. chip granola bar) and talked to Aiden while I showered.  He enjoys taking a bath with baby brother so after I finished I undressed Aiden and they took a bath together.  I left him in there while I dressed Aiden and then he obediently got out.  We then came in the living room and I turned on the electronic babysitter and plopped down on the futon.  By 8 Aiden was ready to eat and go back to sleep.  When I put him down I came back and laid down.  My eyes just felt like they wouldn't stay open.  Michael kept jumping on me asking me for food. Really, he said "Can I have some food please?"  I pulled myself up and fixed him a small bowl of frosted squares.  I would have made him a bigger bowl had I known he would eat every single bit of it, and drink the rest of the milk.  I offered him some more, but he said he was done.  An hour later he was asking me for some more food.  I told him he had his chance for breakfast, and he would have to wait until lunch.  He didn't like that but he got over it quickly and moved on.  My appiontment was at 11:15, so my dad came over at 10:30 to watch the boys.  I left here at 11 and went to the doctor.

I will tell you what, I had a list of things I wanted to make sure to ask the doctor about and get cleared up or fixed or worked on.  It went something like this:  Blood tests: Thyroid levels, and arthritis panel, along with whatever else they do at a routine physical.  They ended up taking a full 5 vials of blood. Even the girl who was taking my blood said, :wow, they are running a lot of tests."  I would rather be tested than find out the hard way things that can be fixed now.  Anyhoo, then I wrote down to talk to him about my sleep problems and jaw problems.  I got a referral to a sleep doctor for a sleep study and I can't really do anything about my jaw until I wean Aiden because it requires medication that might not even help that much any way.  Don't really know what to do about that anyway except keep looking for a second opinion. Or third, or whatever.  I have an appointment with the thyroid doctor on October the 28th. Anyway, we just basically get to wait for the lab results.  Other than possibly those I am healthy.  Just pray about what I am going to do about my jaw.  It is painful every day, almost every time I eat.  

When I look at all these medical bills and think about all of the future charges that we are going to incur it gives me this overwhelmed and sad feeling.  I know that these things happen and it's impossible to stop them, and they have to be taken care of, but it just plain sucks that it costs so much to stay healthy.  I guess we will just try to get everything done before our deductible starts over in March.  Then the expensive stuff will be impossible to get done.

We have hit another bump in the road about the termination of rights and adoption for Michael.  The process server couldn't find James, and he refuses to give me his address as of a few months ago, so we basically just have to find him and serve him or we can't proceed.  The lawyer said after I give it a little more effort on my part to find out an address, he will talk to the judge about what he or she will require in the way of notification to satisfy the court that he was given a chance to appeal.  We don't want to give him any loophole at all to wiggle through and screw all of it up.  Just pray that all of that will work out. Pray that James will give me an address if I end up asking for it.  We don't have the funds to hire a private detective, so it really is in our court.  maybe Peter could take a out of market job in Vegas and pull double duty. hmmm. just a crazy thought.

Back to a lighter note. My house is a wreck.  And yes, that is a lighter note because I don't really care.  I'll clean when I get a burst of energy.  Usually right before I go pump.  I do a quick speed clean and then sit down and pump before falling over exhausted.  In the morning it looks the same as it did before I cleaned any way because of tornado Michael.  Not much one can do so why stress??  I choose not to.  I got some more birthday money in the mail today so I treated me and Michael to little Ceasar's pizza for dinner.  It's funny how when Peter isn't here there are no sodas in the house. I end up drinking more water, which is good, but I think I get a caffeine headache if I don't at least have a couple of sips of some soda.  Too much makes me sick any way.  By the way, I am out of lemonade now, come back and make some more.  You know I am no good at it. And I want some taco meat.  Come back and cook for me.  Poor Peter doesn't even have a kitchen to cook in down there.  I bet he misses that.  i love you babe.

Michael fell asleep so very very quickly.  As soon as I read him one story, we turned off the lights and I left the room with Aiden.  He was out before I even started nursing Aiden.  Serves him right for waking up at 6.  Hopefully he will sleep till at least 7.  I can handle 7.

School tomorrow, which means it will be Thursday before I know it.  yeah!!

Michael and Aiden just love playing with each other.  Correction:  Aiden LOVES watching Michael play.  Even when he throws something at his head.  It was soft, and Michael realized immediately after what he had done and started crying.  It was so sad and funny I had to keep from laughing.  Aiden acted as though he didn't even feel it.  He actually gets upset if Michael doesn't pay attention to him or play around him.  Michael can get him to laugh faster than anyone I have seen.  Silly faces and silly words, jumping and falling down, even knocking him over makes him laugh.

Pictures: Put Aiden in the bathroom to watch Michael take a bath.  Entertaining.  Tornado Michael and Aiden enjoying Michael.  Oh, and Michael dressed himself after the bath.

whataday.

Tomarrow I go into the doctor for a physical.  There are many things that I will be able to talk to him about.  I always feel like I am doing something wrong if I ask about myself when I take the kids in for something.  I think that they will get annoyed with me, and always feel as though they rush through whatever it was because I am not paying for a seperate visit.  Well I will get my time tomorrow.  I am not allowed to eat after midnight and not until after my appointment.  I will be starving!  

Today was intersting from the start.  Normally on a sunday when Peter is here, I hand off Aiden to him at maybe 6:30 and then sleep in.  My wonderful husband never complains about that, even though I know he is tired too.  I like to think they have a party while I sleep.  It is just so nice to be able to get that extra hour I never get after waking up sometimes twice a night or more every night.  I am working on that by the way.  Sleep here I come!   Any way, I got to get up at 6 and entertain a cranky baby.  He is cranky because he is so very stuffy, and runny, and drooly.  I think he is about to cut two more teeth, as the gums on either side of his bottom two teeth are a bit swollen, he has a little fever, and he is biting EVERYTHING!  Including me!!! Not pleasant by the way.  But Michael woke up after that and we ate breakfast and watched a little TV, and were all ready by 8:30.  I decided since we were all ready and not messy, we ould go to the new 9 o'clock srevice with my parents.  It was good, and after that I took Aiden to the nursing mother's room and fed him for a bit.  Then I went home.  I had Olivia bring Michael to me at my house  after church.  When at home I started getting out all of the 12 month clothes that I have saved from Michael. Aiden cannot wear any 6 month clothes any more because he is too long, and the nine month clothes are a bit tight, unless they run a bit big.  But the 12 month clothes seem more comfortable for him.  So.... I have a 20 pound 5 month old wearing 12 month old clothing.  And I was worried that I wouldn't be able to use any of Michael's old clothes because they were born in different seasons.  Aiden has made uo for that by growing extra fast.  CRAZY!  I also found a big box with a bunch of cool baby toys that I didn't know I still had.  So while I was finishing that in the garage, Michael was going to the restroom.  I had already come in once to put all of the clothes in the wash, and checked on him then.  He was wiping himself.  Ok, so I went back into the garage figuring he would follow me to see what I was doing.  All of a sudden I hear him calling for me. "Mommy, mommy."  I yell at him from the garage to come and talk to me if he wants to tell me something.  So he walks in with only his shirt on and has a very sad face on and tells me, " I'm so sorry mom, I am so sad that I did that."  I stop what I am doing and look at him.  "Did what?"  " I'm just so ssad, the potty, and water, ..."  I quickly walk into the very quickly flooding restroom.  up over the top of my feet flooding.  It had only been 2 minuites since I walked into the garage!  I grabbed a few towels, got my phone and called my dad to figure out how to shut the water off at the toilet.   Once I got that shut off, I tried to grab some more towels and sop up a bit of the mess.  I told Michael to go to his room, and then I joined him in there after a few minutes.  I asked him if he put anything in the potty, as he had tragically flushed a small ducky down the potty a few months ago.  He said "no, nothing."  I went back in to survey the scene.  I looked at his box of flushable wipes.  They were half gone.  Not so flushable when used 20 or more at a time.  I finally got him to tell me that he had unrolled toilet paper into the potty as well.  After that Randi came to the rescue with her Ocean Blue vacum thing and sucked up th remaining water off of the floor.  I threw all of the soaking towels out onto the back porch and still haven't washed them.  That will be tomorrow's chore.  I was supposed to be over at my mom's house to eat cook out stuff, and was about to head over there after the baby woke up, but then happened.  By the time I got over there everyting was cooked and laying out.  I grabbed some food and ate it all up.  The poor cowboys game started at 3, and so I went to lay back with the baby in my parents room about that time.  I nursed him and then played with him, and then ended up nursing him to sleep about 4:30.  My parents took Michael to church for me because I took a nice long nap with Aiden.  YAY!  That felt nice.  They brought Michael home after church and my dad took a look at the potty.  He determined that he would need a plunger and a snake, both which we don't have.  He ended up taking mom home and coming back to fix the potty.  Thanks dad!!!  Michael went to sleep within 5 minutes of me putting him to bed.  Aiden I had to nurse to sleep.  But all of my night time duties are over until Aiden wakes up to eat, so I need to go to sleep before I eat anything else.

Michael is funny though.  Everytime I tell Aiden firmly not to bite, Michael come running over telling him not to bite because it is not nice.  Now he just yells it from across the room.  One time he came up and gave Aiden a long speech of things not to do.  He said, "We do not bite, and we do not hit, and we do not yell, and because those things are not nice and we need to obey, you need to obey.  No biting!"  It was cute.

Just some silly pics for fun.  Didn't take any today.

wonderful

Let me just start this entry off by saying that I have the coolest 4 year old on the planet!!!!   No offense to anyone else, but He is the coolest smartest, sweetes kid in the entire world.  Peter, our parenting is paying off, and may I say so myself that we are doing a fabulos job.  Today Michael got a good attitude sticker.  He never gets one of those because it requires that the entire day be good.  As that is hard for a three year old, especially one that seemed for a while to be going through a whiny, angry, tantrum phase.  Today was awesome.  By the way, happy 22nd birthday to my sister randi, and my niece marlee. 

Today started out good, shower in the morning without Aiden crying from his seat for me to pick him up.  Then Michael woke up and played nicely for a good while.  Then I talked to my mom and we all decided to get together for randi's birthday up at otb.  Wonder why anyone?  50% discount!  Not to mention that the food is good.  Now that I think about it we could have also gone to chili's so that I could have gotten a chocolate shake. mmmmm.  Oh well.  Grandmommy came over to watch the boys while us 4 sisters and mom went to eat.  Cool huh??  We were all available, which never happens.  Grandmommy said Michael was wonderful, and we had fun at OTB.  After we ate I came and picked up the boys and although Aiden had just fallen asleep, I broke the cardinal rule of never wake a sleeping baby, and loaded him in the car to go to Mardel.  I was able to get a couple of things that I wanted to get for my birthday for 40% off.  They had a sale today, plus chloe's discount.  After I bought these items, I hear an overhead page saying, "would heather pyle come to the back of the store please."  Olivia had taken Michael to the bathroom, so I sighed and headed in that direction.  olivia obviously forgot that I am not pyle anymore. Iit was kind of funny because chloe looked at me like what did they just say?  Any way, I go into the bahroom and Olivia is backing away from me and trying not to laugh.  I opened the door to the big stall and see Michael standing there absolutely butt naked.  Supposedly he had tried to go potty and the potty was too tall and so he ended up going all over the front of it and on his shorts and underware too.  Then for some reason he thought his shirt was wet too and took that off and tossed it in the pee.  No shoes no shirt no service right??  Well, his shorts weren't too bad, just a little on the bottom side part.  So I put those back on him.  His shirt was soaked in pee, so I was just going to have to walk him out without a shirt on.  Olivia had two shirts on and so she took one off and put it on him.  After a little tying and tightening, it did well for walking out of the building.  That is picture number one.  After that we came back to my house and I fed the baby.  Michael continued to play nicely.  Ia and chloe left and then I got a call from Mom and dad saying that they were coming over to see the boys before they went shopping.  So they came over and played for a while and had a bunch of fun.  After they left I asked Michael to go and play in his room quietly.  He did just that.  I tell you, it has been yes m'am all day long.  And except for the potty incident, it was awesome.  At about 5:30 or so I loaded the boys in the car to go to walmart.  I took both the stroller and a cart in.  So I tried to let Michael push one or the other for a while, and that just stressed me out because he was all over the place.  So I put him in the basket and drove the stroller with one hand and pulled the basket with the other.  I think my shoulders are a bit out of socket.  oh well, add it to the list of thing that are currently wrong with me.  It actually wasn't that bad.  Aiden fell asleep on his stroller, which is why I took it to begin with.  I actually made good time and Michael was very good.  No whining.  I got him a small bag of doritos, you know, the 30 cent kind.  he loved that, and he even opened them all by himself.  He was so proud.  I finished and then came home, unloaded and then fed Aiden.  They just went to sleep about 20 min ago, and it is 8:40.  Michael got really tired here at the end, so he went to bed willingly and fast.  I actually don't feel as exhausted as I usually do.  It is amazing how muchdealing with a kid's whining takes out of you.  Well, I have to eat and then go pump.  Have a good night. 

Love to all.

miss you daddy.

Peter left for Houston at 8 this morning.  It was sad to see him go.  I have gotten so used to him helping with the kids.  I love it when he is here to rock aiden to sleep or read to michael.  He is such a good daddy.

About 9 or so Pappaw brought Michael home and we left about 9:30 for a play date at ten.  We were all supposed to meet up at the park behind Wylie high school.  After driving around the parking lot for a few minutes, I found my way back to the park.  I pulled in at ten exactly.  Too bad for me that none of the other moms showed up until around 11.  I even called my mom trying to figure out if I was at the right place.  I felt a little weird being the teacher there, but I guess it made it a little easier for the moms to connect through me.  I did the initial introductions of who was who's mom, and they took it from there after a little while.  It was nice to talk with other mom's with a kid the same age as Michael.  I guess I am never good at putting myself out there so everything like that felt weird to me. I guess I just have to learn how to talk to people.  Another reason is that most moms that have kids my age are older than me.  I never know what to do or say.  I had a really great time despite my own self doubt.

After that, 2 hours at the park, we went to eat.  I could tell Michael was just exhausted.  He was doing his tired whine/cry thing.

Aiden didn't allow me much sleep last night.  For some reason he woke up drainy and very congested.  That continued throughout the whole day.  He didn't get much sleep because of it, so I am hoping that he sleeps tonight.  I tired some squash at lunch today and he wasn't going for it.  He ate a whole thing of sweet potatoes yesterday, and even half a thing of bananas at night time.  I started giving him a chance to eat food like this at mother's day out just to see if he was wanting it or not.  I guess he is.  He still nurses afterwards anyway.  I don't think he's ready for the emotional; disconnect yet, the comfort part of it.  But he always stares whoever has food down, and reaches for it. I can almost see him drooling.  OK, he is drooling, no matter what is around, but you get my point.

We hung out for the rest of the hot day in the house.  Both Randi and grandma came for a short visit.  After that we took a bath and I had them both asleep by 8!  Woohoo for me.

Now I must go pump. and eat. I'm hungry!

party hardy

Wow!! Today is already thursday!  I can't believe how fast the months go by when there is Mother's Day Out to go to.  I don't know where the week goes.  But I love that it goes fast.  

Today Aiden ate an entire thing of sweet potatoes!!  Yesterday he ate half a container of squash.  They feed him and then I go in and feed him.  Amazingly he is still hungry when it comes time to nurse.  He is growing so fast.  He is almost 6 months old. crazy crazy.

Peter leaves tomorrow for houston.  He will be there for three weeks and will hopefully get back just in time for Michael's birthday party.  I am so excited about it.  Hopefully Michael and his little friends will have fun without hurting each other too much.  You should see them at school.  They all wrestle around with each other like crazy.  Today was class party for both his and my class.  They had Mcdonalds and we had pizza.  I can't ever have too much pizza.  I love love love pizza.

Have a good rest of the day.

training day

Today I left the house at 6:45 or so to go to a training seminar in dallas off of 35 and mockingbird. It was actually very funny. I have to be honest. I was worried about leaving the boys with peggy for so long. I was more mommy worried about how aiden would do because he is sometimes so mean to my mom when she keeps him. But everything went well as I knew it would. The seminar itself lasted from 8 till 1. The man was very funny and brought up many very good points and ideas. I had to keep convincing olivia to stay. She was convinced that she wanted to leave early. I kept telling her it's only one more hour, it's only 15 more minutes, it's almost over. hold on I'll go with you. It was funny because after all that she ended up going out to eat with all of us ladies to cheddars. we had fun. I got home at three and so had a short rest of the day with the boys. My parents stopped by before they went to see a movie and saw the boys for about thirty min. or so.

Now it is already 8 and michael is in bed and aiden is on the way. crazy crazy.

That was saturday.

Today is monday. and I just got back from work at otb. it was my once a month shift.

Peter kept the boys tonight and really well. I am so proud of all of my boys. Today was a big day or Aiden. He is getting more mobile. He likes to take his time with things though. He is suppose to be able to push up on his arms already, and even roll over both ways. At least that is what all the literature says. He rolled from his tummy to his back today!! He also does this thing with his lips where he sucks in on them while they are closed as if he were sucking on a patsy or something, and he making a sound doing it. It is pretty funny.

This morning I discovered that my keys were missing and got a bit upset about it. probably more than I should have. Before that though we were all planning on going out togather to barnes and noble to play and buy a book. Well Michael came up to me and said " will you go with me next time, later, not right now?" He wanted for daddy to take him by himself. He also required that he go in daddy's car. It was pretty funny.

Peter still doesn't know when he will be leaving for houston. I guess we'll find out later.

Good night all

curious michael crazy michael mad michael

Well today was a friday.  I enjoy my mondays and fridays.  I feel like I can sleep in instead of having to get up to go to work.  The funny thing is, I don't actually get to sleep in.  I guess I just feel more relaxed.  Today is also the first day I have woken up without a splitting sinus headache.  I have felt a bit of pressure, but nothing serious.  Today Michael and Aiden and I went up to the mall.  I only spent 5 dollars!  On pretzles.  I had to, I really really have been craving them.  At the mall we went to carter's and then old navy.  At old navy is where Michael decided to have a melt down.  I am talking full blown screaming attitude saying mean ugly things and if I could have popped him there without it seeming like I beat him, I would have.  He was already screaming at the top of his lungs that I was mean and that he wasn't going to talk to me any more.  Gee whiz!!  All this happened in the dressing room.  I don't even know what it started over.  He just looked at me with his mean face and screamed at me his mad scream.  I calmly looked back at him and told him we were going home because of his attitude.  That is when the yogurt hit the fan.  He started telling me no, more like screaming it, and I told him I was going to take away his old navy truck when we got home.  He was flipping out.  I put all of the clothes back and we left.  We were walking back to the car when I told him that he was going to take a nap when we got home.  He looked back at me and really sweetly said, " that is a good idea mommy, let's do that." After that he was sweet all the way home.  He got in bed, and then went to sleep after about 30 min.  He took a two hour nap!!  He woke up at tree and so we all got in the car a went to grandma's house for a visit.  Pappaw was leaving at 4, but he got to play with Michael for a while before he left for "refereeding."  After that Michael played outside for a while longer.  He also got to make binoculars out of two tissue rolls.  Thanks grandma.  The baby was still alseep when grandma left so we stayed until he woke up.  After that we went to walmart for a few groceries.  then we came home and took a bath.  in the bath he had a ducky that is dressed like a police duck.  For some reason he held the ducky underwater and told me that he died.  Where does he get that from??  I told im that we don't want anyone to die, and he relpyed back, " because they help us?"  I said yes, but we still don't want anyone to die.  Then he let it go and moved on.  Where does he get these things?  Curious Michael.  Later on when we were sitting watching the incredibles togather it was at that part where helen tells edna that bob is retired and she is retired and there family is underground.  Michael turns around and looks at me and asks, " what does retired mean?"  I told him that it means that he doesn't have to work anymore.  Being retired is when someone doesn't work anymore." I told him that helen still thinks that bob works.  He proptly replyed, "but he doesn't work anymore. he's retired."  Funny huh?

Have a wonderful weekend.

Crazy.

At least Aiden isn't this big....

Where would you put your hands to pick him up?

long long

Well it has been a while since I have updated.  Sorry bout that.  We have been busy.  We have had Aiden's dedication, then my birthday, then we went down to see the cousins and Matt and Marianne for their last day at their church.  Then school started on tues again, throw in a few headaches and a hospital visit and there you have it.  the past week. 

What hospital visit you ask?  The one on my birthday.For some reason Aiden was freaking out that night.  He would only go to sleep for Peter, and then when he was laid down he would wake up screaming.  He was just not cooperating.   So I took him to the hospital, at three thirty in the morning.  Happy birthday to me.  We were on the way home by 5;30, so it was not that bad.  Diagnosis:  Healthy baby.  Nothing at all was wrong with him.  They put febrile illness on the form.  Who knows.  God has a weird sense of humor.  But you know what?  I got to find out that I have a healthy baby on my birthday,. That is a present in itself.  I think that I was just overly tired and cranky, otherwise I would have just pushed through it and waited until the next day.  But he was acting very wierd.  He couln't be comforted and then once he was asleep he would wake back up screaming.  He had tylenol and mylecon, and orajel.  Nothing worked.  He wouldn't even eat.  That is what worried me.  Usually he'll always eat.  Oh well, its al good.

Today at school I had the teacher try and give him bananas.  He has tried cereal and not really liked it, then he tried oatmeal and he did better with that.  The bananas I am told didn't go to great, but he did eat a little bit.  I think that Stephanie told me that he even smiled at one point. I think he just didn't like the texture.  I am trying to open him up to new things early enough to get him used to it, but I think I will still feed him exclusively for a while longer.

Michael came up to me crying today at the play ground because Kevin wouldn't play with him.  Joshua Lorenz was sitting next to me because he said he had a headache.  I told michael that he could play with whoever he wanted if Kevin wouldn't play with him.  But he though it was the end of the world and was so hurt.  Joshua got up and hugged Michael and said, "i'll play with you Michael"  It was the sweetest thing in the world.   So michael and joshua ran off and played togather.

My appointment with the doctor to fix my jaw went good up until the part where they told me that the treatment plan would cost 4 to 5 thousand dollars and asked me to open a credit card to pay for it.  It is absolutely ridiculous.  I wish they would just bill me like my doctors do.  Send it to me in the mail, and I'll pay what I can.  I don't know what else to do.  This guy is a craniofacial specialist and they take only medical insurance, which would be good if they would cover it.  They will only maybe cover the xrays. Maybe.  I am going to ask my primary doctor for some help. We'll see.

Have a good day.

Dedication

Today was Aiden's dedication. It went well. There were only two other babies up there on stage with us. When Michael was dedicated, there were so many babies being dedicated that we couldn't even go up on stage. Afterwards we went out to eat with my whole family and Peter's dad. That was interesting. I wonder what Steve really thought. Are we as crazy as I think we are? Either way I have fun when we go out as a big family. I wonder what it'll be like when the other kids start having kids too. hmmmm...

Here are some pictures

wild things

What a wild day.  I left for the bank this morning and went and went all day long.  I paid the mortgage, opened a svings account, and ordered a new card.  After that I went by my mom's house to feed the baby.  When he was asleep, I took the boy to get the license plates for my car.  Then we went to try and drop off the mortgage check at Wells fargo in Tom Thumb, but the line was too long.  I went and got a box of baby cereal instead.  we then went back to grandma's house where we dug out the old high chair and decided it was too dirty and needed to be cleaned.  So we used to trusty old bumbo to sit the baby up instead.  He had his first few bites of cereal.  I didn't have any pumped breast milk over there, so we used formula.  Later on he threw everything he had eaten up. I think that it doesn't agree with him, so I bought the soy kind to try.  It was a little over a month since we had opened it, and it says it is only good for a month, but I figured we could try the other one anyway.   Michael was playing in the backyard and my mom went out to check on him and he had taken off all of clothes and gotten into a big broken tub that we use for little branches, and he had filled it with water.   He said he was taking a bath. 

We went to Walmart a little later on and ... Drumroll please..... Michael ate some ham.  Some deli meat ham.  Brown sugar ham!!  I can not beeeeleeve it, to quote little einstiens.  Earlier tonight he also asked me for a soft carrot. I guess he was just in the mood to try some new things today.

When we got home earlier he was MIA for a while, but I could hear him running around.  I was also on a pretty important call so I could n't get up.  Later I went back to my room and he had drawn all over my door with a red dry erase marker.  I made him clean some of it up.  He did not like that at all.

Overall, Michael was actually really much better today attitude wise.  He had a couple of moments, but it was a relieve to have him be sweet for a while.

Aiden had aaanother huge blowout today!  They didn't have a baby changing station at the bank either.  It was everywhere.

On that note, goodnight.

Craziness. Is that a word?

Today was better having Helena there to help with the wild ones.  I am still very new and really trying to figure out when things should be done, and how they should be done.  It is hard.  But today was actually a bit better because I was able to help a couple of kids get to the point of actually trying to write the letter I which is almost the easiest letter to write.  It felt good to praise them and see them smile because they figured out they could do it.

Today was absolutely beautiful outside.  I love love love the fall!!  It is my favorite season.  Then winter then spring, then last of all, summer.  I do not like the humidity and heat.  BLAH!  It soon will be over!  I get happy when it is cold.  

I am trying to plan Michael's birthday party.  He has settled on the fact that he wants a McQueen party.  I guess it will be only for girls..... That reminds me.  Quick story.  He is 3, almost 4. Right??  Kim, his teacher, told me that for the past couple of days he and McKinley have been holding hands, and he has been telling everyone that they are married. hmmmmm.  What to do about that.  Funny huh?  He has even gone so far as to get in Kennan' face about it.  Kennan is her cousin who is very protective about her.  Michael practically shoves him away when Kennan is trying to get between them.  You should have seen the look on his face at the water fountain today when that was going on.  In my class we tell them that it is not time to play like that.  Some of the girls talk about kissing the boys or marrying the boys, and I am sitting there thinking, they are only 4 right??  I don't even know where Michael heard that from, or if he even relatively understands it.

Aiden had another crying fit today.  It is hard for me to tell what it is about because I am not there when it happens.  Part of me wonders if he just misses me and that is what it is about.  The other part of me wonders if he feels sick or something.

Michael got sent to the principles office today for telling his teacher that she was a meanie.  Kevan started it, and Michael followed right along with it.  I just don't understand.  His teacher says that he is good when Kevan is not there, but he just loves to play with Kevan.  Kevan might initiate it, but Michael pulls his own weight.  After that, he was a complete and utter terror after school.  We are going to have to find a better way of helping him control his anger.  Any suggestions?

Any way, back to the birthday party thing.  I need to figure out who will be invited other than the family of course.  I just don't know if I want an all out war in the house between Kevan Michael, Marc, Kennan, And Tabor.  The 5 worst kids to put together in the same room.   Let me tell you, it is not pretty.  Tabor and Kennan gang up on Kevan and Michael and Marc jumps in wherever he can.  It is an all out boy brawl even when they are not fighting with each other.  And it goes back and forth.  Each set finds something to do to the other set.  Kevan runs around with Michael trailing him and tackles Tabor, Tabor hits him and kennan yells at someone, then it starts all over again with the other set.  That is just what happens at recess.  The funny thing is, they aren't nessasarily mad at each other or trying to hurt each other, they are just playing rough.

Sigh.  Sigh again.  I was considering renting a bouncy house. I am not sure yet.

 Have a great night.

by myself.

Michael went from the kid who couldn't draw a circle to save his life, to a little artist, drawing pics of me peter and baby brother. even a train. Note about the one with all of the circles: That one is Peter, and if you haven't guessed by now all those circles are his "medicines."

Today was a hard day. I went in knowing that my teaching assistant wasn't going to be there, but I wasn't expecting that I would have to do as much work as I ended up doing. It is really hard to go around to 14 or so kids and try and teach each one individually what I mean when I say to trace something, and then have to explain what I mean when I say write your own. With half of the class staring out into outer space, it is going to be hard to get all the kids on the level to where they understand that "I don't want to do this" doesn't matter. They are there to learn, and it is a preparation for school later on. Trying to pull the cadets out of space over and over again while helping others to write was extremely hard to do by myself. But let me tell you. I am an honest person. I told a couple of the parents that his or her kid was off floating in space, and I sent the work home with them so that they could practice. I made Michael do a paper that he obviously didn't do in class. It did look a little overwhelming to me at first to, but once I explained it to him and showed him how to do it, he got the hang of it and did it nicely. I can only hope that these parents care enough to help their kids come out of the clouds. I really enjoy praising the kids when they at least try. They love that. I don't care right now if it is done right. I only care that they try. That is all I ask. We'll see how it goes tomorrow. Helena will be there, so I'll have help. I actually have to bring so much work home right now to do because Aiden doesn't get around by himself right now so I have to carry him once I get him.
Speaking of that crazy kid. He is growing. $ ounces is no longer doing it at feeding time. It will actually tide him over for a while, but he gets hungry sooner now. He was cranky for Stephanie today I think because he was still hungry. So I am going to send a little extra with him to see if he will actually eat it.
I don't think Michael feels good. He told me today that his mouth hurt. That of course means his throat, at least I think it does. I didn't get a real good look at it, but right now it doesn't seem to look bad.
Aiden's baby dedication is on Sunday. On that note let me apologize to Matt and Marianne for that whole taking peggy away for a day thing. When Holly asked me if September 7th was ok, I didn't know when ya'll were leaving for your trip. I am so totally jealous!!! Have fun!!
Good night all.

long weekend

This was supposed to post yesterday, but the computer died while I was writing so I couldn't.

Well, this weekend was fun. Friday was the day that poo exploded everywhere, but before that Michael and I went around to a few places just to get out of the house. We saw this really cool one-seater car. Michael loves car anyway, so he thought it was awesome. Let me tell you though, lately, I don't know who he is. He is not my sweet little boy. He has been on an attitude rampage for about a week and a half. What to do with this boy!! I don't know if has anything to do with things he learns from school, or if this is just a "testing us" phase. Lord let it be over please! Crazy child wants to argue and talk back to me anytime I tell him what to do. He wants it his way. Well, he can have it his way in time out. Otherwise, it is my way or the highway.

Ok, I'm done venting. Aiden continues to teeth, which makes him grumpy at certain times of the day. So when I have two grumpy boys going at me, I need a time out. Any way, Aiden is having a whole bunch of fun in his new jumper thing. He Loves loves loves it. He has even started bouncing in it. He loves to bounce!! He is still attached to my hip otherwise, but he does have more interest in playing now.
Saturday was a hang out day for us. We mainly hung out here and at my mom's house later on. I don't remember much other than that.
OOOpppps!!! How could I forget!!!???? Shame on me.
Saturday was a huge day!! Michael spent the night with Grandma and Pappaw!!!!! It was like he just decided he was ready, after all of this time hangin' on to me, and he did it!! My parents even said that he didn't cry or ask for me at bedtime. Tear. No, really, I am glad about that. Maybe it is because after I read to him at night I snuggle him for just a couple of minutes and then I go my own way. These past two nights, last night and tonight he has been a bit more clingy at home. Tonight I barely got him to leave grandma's house. He wanted to spend the night again.
Sunday was sunday. We went to church and then went out to lunch with Randi and Jackson and Olivia. It was crowded at our big booth. But we had fun, except for Mr. attitude. sigh. After that Randi came home with us and hung out until we all went over to my parent's house. After trying to get them to barbeque, we gave up and went home to eat whatever we had. We don't have a grill. But it was all good, because we grilled out today, monday. Boy were those hot dogs big mom!!! Peter ate two and both hamburger patties that I brought home. He sat there and ate them and then sighed and said, " boy that was good." So props to both my mom and dad for the good food.