Life Marches On..

Too much time has passed since the last post.

I have a few entries saved however,

they need some editing.

This will be a post that is not edited,

so I am preemptively apologizing for the

possible lack of flow.

Summer was fun and quick.

We found an awesome pool to join.

Biggun' did swim and tennis

and had a blast.

As always you meet nice and people

and a

few who don't seem so nice.

Overall, we are pleased and happy to join again this year.

Biggun' started first grade

and

has 2 amazing teachers who he adores.

They have blow our minds with

all they do.

Bitty enjoyed the pool over the Summer too.

He was always done by about 1.5 hours at the pool though.

He saw a few big kids he knew there.

OK, well the big kids recognized him.

Thanks to the awesome set up that

the Elementary school

he did Pre-K at had.

He got to eat lunch and spend parts of his day

with the 5^th graders.

We met some really sweet ones at the pool.

It melted our hearts.

Bitty is now doing Transitional Kindergarten

at a great developmental based preschool

that we have eye balled for a few years.

Now since we live so close to it,

it was a simple and easy choice.

He is thriving so well there

and

soon will have his Kindergarten

Screening to see if Aidan's Elementary school

can accommodate his current needs.

D loves all things water.

He begs to go to the pool still.

D began his second year of preschool

and is thoroughly enjoying it.

He really loves it there.

He is in a class of all Boys!!

They are a sweet bunch with

two teachers who are amazing too.

We really have been blessed with amazing teachers

all around for all Boys so far.

D is growing so fast

and

at times we realize

we are forgetting what a typical developing child he is.

From where our “standards” were with Bitty at this age

we are floored

and

blinded sided by

what D does.

He is like his big brother's LOVES numbers, letters and puzzles.

I don't know how many random people comment on how

engineer-like our Boys are.

I smile and nod.

They are like their Daddy.

Funny, how the last post was on the topic of Heaven.

On October 1 our Sweet Goofy Cooper

went to Heaven.

Cooper is January 2009

He had been out of sorts for a while.

I was always afraid I would find him eternally sleeping.

His last month or two on Earth was

going to the Vet

and

me sounding like the crazy lady

who did not agree with what the Vet said.

Things just did not add up.

Needless to say, Andrew talked to the vet office

and

took Cooper in.

It was at a time we both cold not go

so he came home form work.

I did the typical Tuesday rounds of carpool

and

Bitty's appointments with therapists.

The vet did a blood draw on our Sweet older 9 year old Cooper.

The blood draw was a drastic difference than a few months before.

Andrew was by himself

and

got to hear some rough news regarding our precious

Cooper.

Acute Lymphatic Leukemia.

His blood was showing signs of the terrible downhill move.

As in what typically happens is horrible, bleeding out from the lungs.

Our Cooper was also no longer eating.

He was refusing even his most favorite foods.

I went into crazy Dog Mommy mode of cooking

chicken and rice to try and get him to eat.

We always talked about our Pups

and

said we would never worry about Cooper

until he did not eat.

We were there.

He started vomiting.

We had a choice to make.

So, we kept our routine normal the next

day

and

got our Boys to school.

We tried to get a last photo of our two pups but

Roxy wouldn't go near Cooper

and

Cooper wouldn't go near her.

We then took Cooper to the vet for the final time.

We said Good Bye for now.

Then life keeps moving.

Andrew had to go to work

and

I had to go get the Boys from school.

Then we had to have the Heaven

talk with the Boys.

Needless to say, they still ask about our Cooper.

They want us to go get him from Heaven and bring him home

since Cooper is all better now.

Yup.

I hope to post a quick Biggun' and D Birthdays, Christmas and New Years blurb to get some version of caught up.

I then hope to add a few entries of writing I have been sitting on for a while.

Just a typical Frantic Friday..

Thank goodness it is Friday.

Not a bad day, really.

Troublesome?

Yes, at times.

Good?

Yes,a times.

It is just the waves of life.

Nothing bad.

Frustrating?

Yes, at times.

You see a pattern here?

I really like to be organized.

It is much easier for me to function

when things are organized.

The Kids do better also.

So, I haven't vacuumed

the entire downstairs in..

I don't know how long.

OK, well the other weekend..I think..

it seems like an eternity to me.

Dog hair, dirt..bleh.

I had a list I really needed but

just could not find it.

That is how the morning started.

We really even encroaching 8 months

of being here haven't fully unpacked.

( A HUGE peeve of mine.)

Anyways, I was irked at myself this morning.

I found it

and

got a few things thrown away while searching.

So I got he boys fruit for breakfast

, cut coupons I have piled up for months.

OK, well threw some out and cut the rest.

I moved laundry around..I am behind on that too.

Prior to moving I was on top of it for 5 months.

Then I got the dishwasher unloaded

and

breakfast cleaned up.

I then began the deep vacuum.

Head phones in and popped up all recliners

to make sure I got under the couches good,

moved tables, used the swiffer to get dust off of the

floors that the vacuum can't get.

That takes some time.

Also, sorting through stashes under the couches.

A snack bowl, lego pieces, rainbow loom pieces, crayons,

pencils etc.

I climbed under recliners

and

tried to make sure children were

not climbing on them so I did not get

folded up under the couch.

I bumped into the coffee table and end tables.

Tried to make myself remember when I

have random bruises on my lower back or shoulders

I know it was from that.

I see Logan touching his backside.

(A sign he needs to use the potty.)

He will refuse to try at times

or

you ask

and

he takes a while to respond

or

he is in 'Loganland'

and

just truly did not hear you.

I usually do OK with patience.

See, just OK..no Saint here.

Other days he does so well in other

things I find myself

getting too easily frustrated with him.

I did good today.

I repeated it about 6 times over 5 minutes.

Random kid distractions

I keep the vacuuming running

or

at times stop it to handle something.

One of the times I stop it.

I hear Logan yell, “I Poop in the potty!!”
He listened!!

Yaay!

This may seem TMI, but

lately we have reverted back to

when he uses the potty ..

(Just stopped typing here, due to hearing a glass sound upstairs...)

we have a pair of underpants that need

to be rinsed out in the toilet

prior to running it in the rinse cycle

in the washer with borax

and

THEN we wash it with our dirty laundry.

Trust me, sounds crazy, but if I don't do that

then I have had to clean chunks of feces from the inside of

our washing machine after the rinse cycle.

So, it may not sound so crazy now, huh?

:)

Today, I caught his signs early enough that the underpants

had only tiny marks that don't need any extra wash or rinse.

Yaay!!!

I was stoked.

At some point after that

Daniel and Aidan got dressed

to go out back.

I thought about going out back

to do a quick dog poo scooping

but REALLY wanted to finish the vacuuming

and picking up.

I am not sure how much time passes.

I hear the back door open and close.

Then I get a Daniel approaching me

with a wet Croc with ?mud? on it

and

some “dirt” on his shirt.

I leave the vacuum running

and

then I smell dog poo.

So, I lead him back outside to

strip him down

and

asked where he other shoe is.

I get no answer.

I walk around the back yard

(vacuum still on inside)

looking for the shoe

and

puddle that

must have wet the other one.

I keep an eye for dog poo too.

I keep asking but get no answers from D

and

no help from Big Brother Aidan.

I come back in, t

ell D to head upstairs for a bath.

The child wreaks of dog poo.

I turn off the vacuum

and

go upstairs.

I get the water adjusted, let it run,

take off my head phones.

Send Andrew a text about the dog poo.

I then tell myself to take off my headphones so they don't

drop in the tub.

I lean over to touch the water

and

one headphone

dangled into the water.

I then realize the cold water was turned off.

EEP!

The water was not too hot

but

3 year olds and knobs/buttons/doors

always get messed with.

I start adding nothing but cold water.

Headphone are now hanging to dry out.

I washed the kid well.

Get him out of the tub

and

he doesn't want clothes.

So, underwear it is.

I go back down to finish my vacuuming.

Just even hours later I don't know what happened

but that last 10 feet of dining room took at least

another hour to vacuum.

Got the washer set up to rinse D's clothes.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention his shirt and especially shorts

had dog poo smeared all over it.

We get lunch.

Not easily.

I eat.

Logan actually uses a lidless cup with a straw ( big feat!)

no spilling!!

Then finished it off without the straw!

He HATES cups touching his lips.

I take a photo

and

send it to Andrew and posted it to FB.

(a little time passes)

I walk into the kitchen

and

see D in the toy

room

with green kid scissors

and

he has his little pogo squeaker toy in hand too.

I request the scissors.

He walks them to me

saying, “Uh oh.”

He used the scissors to cut through part of the tubing.

That toy goes in the trash.

I make him do it.

I don't fuss.

He is 3, he is exploring.

I apparently was not aware he had scissors.

Curiosity killed the pogo squeaker.

I go back to the backyard to search for the missing Croc.

I find a pile of poo under our toy room window

then a smeared pile right next to one of D's many little

piles of trucks in a bare spot of our yard.

I also realize,we have no puddles out back.

I also verify that they hose it not attached in the back.

Only hours later, (that's all)

this Mom's detective gears are working..

I come back in ask D where he other Croc is.

He leads me into the power room downstairs.

Yep, there is the other Croc.

The Little's potty seat is laid out on the floor.

Ask the right questions and you get the answers..

I ask: Did your other Croc get wet in the bathroom?

He said, “Yes.”

I ask: In the sink or the toilet?

He said, “The toilet.”

Connections being made.

Yup, it seems he was aware he stepped in dog poo.

He got it on his hands which would explains

the size/shape/location of the poo on his clothing

(wiping unwanted stuff from hands)

and

the lingering of the poo odor when the clothing was removed.

Since it is poo, we clean poo covered things in the toilets.

Yup..

our three year old stepped in dog poo

and tried to clean himself in our powder room.

Entertained yet?!

I was a tad nervous to run my few errands after this.

Nothing bad but definitely not a boring day!

We survived Wal-Mart.
Harris Teeter wasn’t' boring.

D threw some fits.

Then Daniel and Aidan ran like fools.

Aidan climbed on the cart as I walked away and told him

not to.

He went to get down and clocked his elbow on the cart

and

was pretty upset.

A man in a suit walked by smiling..

D was requested for me to hold his

dead weight 35 lb self

as I look for the two items I forgot to put on my list.

My brain was getting scrambled.

I was ready for home!

Would we make it there?!

Of course, but it really does feel questionable.

We made it home.

Had some meltdowns over somethings,

another tantrum bout,

just another day.

And don't worry the glass sound I heard.
Everthing was OK.

It was just Logan standing on his bed
swatting the fan chains

trying to turn his light on

and

the other chain wrapped around

the fan light.

Nothing broken, so we are good.

Really, truly, a lot of good in today

and

a lot of silly

with a tad of chaos.

How was your Friday??

Scramble Ramble

Today is one month until the

21st annual Angels Among Us

5K and Family Fun Walk

and I still owe a post that I said I would do last year. 

About the experience there. 

I am in the process of getting Team Shirts ordered. 

I have created a shirt image to use.

Yes, I created it with the help of

free apps and images to get the works together

nothing real savvy but yes I did it. 

We are also less than 2 week from our Logan

turning 5!!  

5 years!

I always have so much running through my head

I want to write about. 

If only I could attach a word processor to my brain

so I could "type" while thinking

and 

doing everything else I try to do. 

I need some 36 hour days where I get 12 straight hours of sleep 

and the 

kids get a few more so I can get some things done without

being distracted from them. 

They are growing up way to fast. 

We have our Bitty actually excited 

and 

anticipating his birthday. 

This is the first time in his 5 years to 

acknowledge it. 

In past years I have gone out of the box

to do something on his birthday

that he would enjoy

and 

show us he was aware of the day. 

Wow..that looks selfish

when typed out. 

That we did it for us?

Let me try again, 

so it was a day and time 

we all could really share together

and 

see all of us 

enjoying it. 

So if people think I go overboard

or 

as I have heard their comments

of criticism.

Their kids enjoy the day, 

they have fun

they are ready for cake

and 

blow out candles and sing. 

Logan does that now

at birthdays. 

He did start out screaming during the singing

and 

get even louder because

the candles were lit 

and 

very quickly blown out. 

He would stay far from the group

but would 

bee line through and then

go back to his space. 

He now may do that at times 

but stays closer

and if

someone chases him

he LOVES that. 

His best interaction with other kids

is to chase them or they chase him

(he takes turns)

whether they are on their feet

or on a bike. 

We need to find a gift for him. 

He has all he wants. 

Heck, Santa brought 

a train table to us December 2009. 

It gets used daily for hours. 

BEST EVER. 

It is in need of some TLC

but it is a must keep. 

But here I am scrambling for birthday ideas, 

party work, 

shirt orders, 

some "graphic design" (haaaa..yeah right..just simple not impressive work)

Bathrooms need scrubbed, 

clothes washed and put away, 

sheets changed, 

restocking the bread supplies in our home, 

some things need a few sewing repairs (not a professional

there by any stretch either, but can get the job done)
I also need to run!

I ran Ella's race last Saturday. 

I need to build up my endurance

in prep for Angels Among Us. 

I spent a lot of time psyching myself out.

The more I practice 

the more I "train" myself not to psych myself out

and 

build up endurance.  :)

But all while wanting to sit back relax and not miss anything. 

Oh the acts of juggling...

In the mean time random photos of last week and weekend. 

Ella's Race..the two finish photos and our Sweet Boys with the Chickfila Cow
and "snow trees" as our D likes to call them. 

Aidan's Lego Creation complete with his eye brow raise, and two dirty Littles.
This is a massive feat for Logey and have shared them with his OT.
DD he would sleep in the mud if we let him.  :)

The perfect weekend night, in PJ's early ready to relax,
D likes to climb on everything and everyone and a Father Son moment of
teaching how to fold paper foot ball for some fun.  

Beauty and Blessings

Here is hoping writing helps.

The life roller coaster at it's finest.

Our Boys are doing well.

Super sweet and always impressing us.

Our Biggun' after (not much that much) practice

tied his new laced shoes this morning,

all by himself!!

He is a man who believes you should

be able to do it at try 1.

We emphasize that learning things

take practice

and

with that practice we get better.

He does not always believe us

but

then the point rings true after he

tries the suggested route to get the task done.

He is getting better at using his words when

he is frustrated too instead

of a full blown meltdown.

His self confidence is so much better also!

I know this comes with age

but

with how he started,

he is soaring.

Just this week, we had a school delay due

to icy roads.

So he came with us to Logan's OT appointment.

This is the same OT who worked with Aidan

for a year.

Every time she sees him she can't believe how

big he has grown physically but also

emotionally and sensory too.

Just yesterday morning he said, “Just be happy

to be who you are and not try to be like anyone else.”

YES, our lessons are sinking in!

Our beautiful growing Little Man #1.

Our Bitty is rocking it too.

He has had some blips of regression

but over the last 3 years of therapies

I have noticed the trend

of before another milestone is reached

we have some regression.

He is back to stacking objects BUT

not chasing them.

His words are phenomenal,

his potty training is pretty good,

that does have a constant regression

over weeks but we get over the dip.

He and D really are playing well together.

Very interactive play with each other.

He does not currently do this at school

but even as a 1 year old,

I told others you really have

to show him you are worth it.

He also plays with Biggun' very well too.

All 3 have their “ways” of playing together.

It may not be what works for everyone

but the other 2 know how you get

to play with Bitty.

Bitty is also showing signs of sight reading

and

attempting to figure out word structure.

He is learning to question,

as what his SLP's are working on.

He will spit back the questions to them and us.

It is questions galore!

B-E-A-UTIFUL!

D is just an all around sweet heart.

He is working on boundaries.

He is tantruming like a pro!

He also has so many words to share.

He will actually tell you about his school

day.

Our other 2 never did this at this age, or

not always now.

He will just out of the blue spawn conversation

with Andrew and I

about something he has been thinking on.

He loves books just as the other 2 do.

He will just sit in from of our bookshelves,

pull out book after book reading.

The next thing you know he is surrounded by a pile of books.

He loves himself some outside time.

Dirt and trucks, trucks and dirt.

He loves to build a lot like the other 2,

he just will tweak little parts

and

then observe the structure.

(My thoughts are he is seeing how the tweak changed

the structure..)

He is also super snuggly, at bedtime he say, “MOM!”

then look at me and pat the pillow next to his.

He also will appear in our room

just to climb in bed with us

then talk our ears off. :)

These are some amazing Little Men we were given.  

Our Baby is 3! Oh My!!

Our Baby is 3!

How on earth did this time pass so quickly?!

Sweet D is doing well.

His words are relatively clear

and

there are many!

We are “shocked” at

how well is words are

and

we tend to say

well our “norm”

was what we went through with Bitty.

Speaking of that.

Daniel and Logan have

quite a little relationship

they go off and play together

and

actually have semi-2 sided

dialogue.

With potty training they cheer each other on.

It is so nice that they are excited for

each other

and

support one another.

Our sweet 3 year old

is mostly happy

and

when not will tell you,

“I am GW-UMPY!!”

In a growly voice.

He has learned to argue.

Him and Logan especially

at times just negate one

another to get the other one

riled up.

If D can get Logan worked up

he really milks it.

So like young siblings do,

they support

each other

but,

also like to

bug each other

at some points.

Daniel loves numbers and letters

like his big brothers.

He has learned a bit of scripting

from them also.

A lot of kids do it.

But then there is the flip to

all they do is script.

(Like Bitty.)

Mentioning he does a little

but that is the way that he

can really interact a lot

with Logan..

the pediatrician asked me,

“Are you concerned he is Autistic?”

And kept bringing it up.

I said, “No, we are not.”

Autism is not a “learned” thing

D's scripting is how he sees

he can play with his Big Bro

the best.

Since we have moved his

food sensitivities are getting worse

I can only imagine

it is due to the fact

we actually have trees and foilage.

The Dr. did not seem too concerned

and

acknowledged even though D

has an alternative diet

we actually

(Again like Bitty)

do our best to give him a

well balanced one.

He kept bringing up

the Autism concern question.

We are pretty good at acknowledging

what we see

and

not sitting in denial

about it.

Our D loves school,

has some friends,

OK..well he will very willingly

tell you about the 2 girls in his class.

(Not sure if this is good or bad for his age...

or will be a flash of what teenage years are like..)

He likes to sing, loves to read

and

at school loves his music class

and

the ability to “play instruments.”

He also LOVES outside.

Some days I think he would sleep

in the backyard if we would let him.

Which to me means some backyard camping

this spring/summer! :)

He loves trucks and being covered in dirt.

Well, only likes to be covered in dirt

that he planned to get dirty with.

He can be covered head to toe in mud

but if his sweet little self

falls into it (even if already dirty)

the accidental dirt sure upsets him.

He is an amazing little man

and

loves to rock his cuteness.

We hear from his Teachers about his

smile for a camera

and

his overall sweet self.

Happy Birthday to our DD!

He did well at his 3 year check up.

Passed all tests

and

comes in at

50^th percentile for height,37.25 inches

and

70^th in weight,33.75 lbs!

Just perfect!!

He was so thrilled for his Birthday.

He loved opening the presents

and

when he thought it took too

long to sing him, “Happy Birthday!”

He started to do it for himself. :)

He is a sweet little independent man

and

at times (which we are eating up)

wants to just sit and snuggle

with us.

6 years old!

Two weeks have passed since our Biggun' turned 6!

I can't believe it. 

Turning 5 was a big deal since he 

took up a whole hand!

Now we are moving another one?!

How did we get here?

We will blink and he will be 18...

I am not ready for that. 

He is loving Kindergarten

and

doing well overall. 

Just have to keep reminding him

even if someone else is 

doing something

that it doesn't mean he should. 

Whether it be peer pressure 

or 

trying to fit in. 

Our hope for this Smart Little Man

is for him to be proud 

of who he is. 

To not try to be like everyone else

to just be himself.

If people are not nice

or

making fun of you,

do your best to not let them win (by getting upset)

Be happy to be who you are. 

Stand tall and proud. 

He is super smart, 

loves to read, 

still likes to make music.

He doesn't do as much

breaking out into loud song with a beat, 

I am guessing due to the lack of echo

in our new home.

But he still does it,

sometimes as nervous habit

and 

other times because he loves music. 

He has two other kids in his class

he plays with the most

and

a few more that they are always excited to say 

Hi when they see each other.

When at lunch the other day one of his Teacher's

told me he was her Math Assistant 

and

 was helping other Kids with their Math. 

He has made a new friend in our new neighborhood

but

misses our old neighborhood friends more. 

He is sweet

 and 

caring

and

overall grateful for what he has. 

He brought a sheet home from school 

just before Thanksgiving

he said he was thankful for , "His two brothers."

His Teacher's are pretty good at getting the Kids

to express their own thoughts. 

He is loving having a yard with trees 

although sometimes

he needs the push to go outside. 

After a day at school he wants to sometimes veg on the couch. 

I let him do it some 

but then has to go outside. 

Or now since the time change

I make him go out first 

then he can veg. 

He also wants to stay inside 

to play with his rainbow loom. 

He is loving it

and

working hard at making things on his own. 

Anyways, our Sweet Biggun' is now 6, 

he impresses us every day 

and

definitely has days where he tests us also.  

:)

Here he is enjoying

his small birthday party..

Eating dinner with his Friends and Brothers

The Golden Ninja cake...

Being silly "striking a pose" (one of many he did)

Getting ready to light the candles and sing..

Blowing out his candles

                                 

Celebrating blowing them all out

Excitement over a remote control monster truck (you see D there mesmerized..)

We will get his "official 6 year old stats" tomorrow after school. :)