Day Out with Thomas

Yesterday we got to ride on Thomas!!  Let me clarify, we rode on Thomas the Train!

This is something we have hoped to do for a while now.  The weather forecast 10 days, 7 days, 5 days  etc. was rain!  The chance kept changing and the day before said, 50%.  Good thing we weren't gambling because it was definitely a rainy day.  

The trip there started later than we hope for. (What's new?!)  Overall, it went smooth.  We were afraid Aidan was getting car sick. Turned out he was nervous.  Once we figured it out we gave him his "chewy" and he went from pale and swallowing hard to pink and chatty.  Logan is a pleasant traveler so we did not worry much with him.  Daniel was a little fussy but all the fussing was due to dirty diapers and hunger.  

We got to the hotel in good time, unloaded and headed out to have dinner.
We decided on Cracker Barrel (this a first we've only had breakfast there.) Honestly, it was the most relaxing, enjoyable dinner that we have had in we don't know how long!! The Boys were great over all.  About 5 trips to the bathroom for Aidan, Logan had a minor meltdown that we fixed with an iPod and Daniel enjoyed trying to eat every bit of food his chubby little arms could reach!
Our friends were staying at a hotel with an indoor pool so we headed there after dinner.  As it turned out the pool was indoors and that was it!  The water was freezing cold.  Our Boys did not mind though.  We finished the pool time by pulling skinny little Logan out of the water against his will.  His skin was starting to turn pink.  We decided to end water time.  Logan was NOT happy about the decision and threw a HUGE stink.  As any Parents know it seems people are always willing to look SUPER OBVIOUSLY when your Kid is throwing a stink.
In this hotel, the windows to rooms looked into the halls and a few lucky visitors get to overlook the indoor pool.  Logan began screaming and sure enough all the curtains swished backwards with people staring. I  can only assume they were looking for a serious injury to go with the screams but were gravely disappointed when it was a 2 year old who was just plain mad.  (Note:  None of the curtains swished back while it was squeals of joy for the 30+ minutes before..)
We headed back to the hotel.  In typical fashion, Logan began screaming, Aidan was singing/clapping and in the midst of the crazy we manged to forget Daniel was on the bed.  Turns out Logan was thirsty (one of our big communication issues with him.), Aidan was tuning out Logan's fit and Daniel crawled off the edge of the bed and "ate it" on a night table.  A drink for Logan, reminding him how to drink from a straw and our room was peaceful once more.  Daniel recovered and had a nice red mark in the middle of his forehead.

Our room was nice and big enough for the five of us.  Andrew, Daniel and I shared the big bed.
Aidan and Logan snuggled up on the sofa bed.

  Logan fell asleep with ease and Aidan tossed and turned past 10:30 because every time he put his head on the pillow he said the bed was "too noisy."  The night went smooth and really could not have been better!
We headed to the continental breakfast.  Of course with more than one small kid you get looks like you are the Duggars. OK, well maybe they are thinking that is how the Duggars began.  **Any other Mom's of multiple young children agree?**  Everyone wants to know how old your kids are, how far apart they are, if they are twins?!!  (SERIOUSLY...it can be asking about Aidan and Logan or Logan and Daniel!!) Anyways, some days it bugs me, others it does not.
Breakfast was full of Little Ones ready to go see Thomas. We ate watching Disney and out the windows the Heavens were pouring.  We made a quick trip to Wal-Mart (to get  Logan some food he actually would eat.) and to pick up some cheap ponchos/rain coats for Aidan, Andrew and I.  Daniel and Logan had on windbreakers and the double stroller we have has a rain cover.
**Our lesson learned;  when you are wearing a wet poncho and pick up a dry baby to carry them on the train.  They get wet from you not just the downpour.**
A trip isn't a trip with out a little faux pas.  A GPS is only as good as the person typing in the address.  As it turns out we stayed in Salisbury and our train ride was in Spencer.
Captain Cloudy Head that I am, knew this difference but typed in the address for the train ride as Salisbury.  Funny thing is, there is the exact same street address in Salisbury too.  Heh.  Needless to say we did not get there an hour before our train ride as recommended.  Also, needed diaper changes after our excursion.  Which turned into Logan peeing on a cooler that was in the car, fighting with the rain cover for the stroller (we never used before.) and RUNNING to the train.
  *hutryeg6wgr*Thanks for helping me type Logan!*
We had to push the stroller through grass with standing water in it, park the stroller and unload the Babies.  We head toward a passenger car and all of a sudden Logan totally came unglued.  The reasons for this are still unknown.  It was a screaming, tears, coughing, gagging fit that never really resolved.  If I stroked his hair, talked to him or tried to soothe him, he only agitated more.  The train car was wet, stagnant, full of screaming excited kids (which agitated Logan and shook Aidan up a bit).  Anyone, who is a Parent understand bystanders tend to stare the hardest when your Kids are losing it.  One passenger in particular just couldn't seem to want to or be able to break his gaze from Logan's fit.  Logan was kicking at all of us.  I ended up swaying with him and doing hand hugs.  Finally, the train started rolling and this motion helped.  Too bad it did not last for long.  I, for some reason thought the train ride would be a loop but it was a straight forward for a few minutes, then stop to back up and drive backwards to where we started.  During the lull in movement Logan was back at it.  All during the ride they played Thomas songs and Logan LOVES Thomas but some of the songs agitate him.  (This happens at home too!) Boy were we relieved to get off the train and get back in the pouring rain.
We took the Kids towards the front of the train to see Thomas.  Logan was still in a funk and wanted nothing to do with it and if we talked to him he would kick at us.
A trip into the gift shop perked everyone up.  We dried off a little and Aidan and Logan played at a train table and picked out some new trains.  Daniel got one with Aidan's advice.
We headed out to the roundhouse and saw some beautiful trains, Aidan got a couple temporary tattoos and we looked at a few "games''.  Aidan wanted to head back to the the bounce house we passed on our run to the train.
The rain finally stopped too.  (Not that it mattered to us, everyone had a change of clothes!)
We headed to the soaking bounce house and the bouncy part had standing water in it, which Andrew emptied.  Aidan and Logan enjoyed the slide the most and Logan kept talking to the coupling rods and trying to move them.

The Boys also got to play some putt putt.  We eventually headed to the car to change the Boys clothes and get some lunch.  We had lunch and headed home.
The Boys all slept the entire way home!
It really was a fun trip. Andrew and I talked about how it actually felt like we had a break. It was a quick trip but really was wonderful!  Aidan keeps asking to go back to the hotel.

We try our best to plan for the unexpected during a trip and really try (and usually do) to laugh at the situation versus getting upset.  This is something I learned growing up because some of the "worst" trips are the most memorable and the best! This is something we hope to show the Boys and make every aspect of a trip as part of the adventure.  What fun is life if everything goes as we think it "should"?!
Thanks if you made it all the way to the end of my novel on our trip!  

Double time anyone?!

Aidan clapping to the beat while humming the song, "Mickey." Please excuse the smudgy fingerprint on the lens.

Everyone eating together. (The Kiddos that is)

Singing songs from Preschool

This is a typical occurrence in our house. At times you may or may not understand the words. Usually you can figure out the tune if you don't understand it all.

Sillies

Sporting undies and rain boots.

Getting a good look from Mr. Playing with Blinds

Showing his standing skills.
*All 3 Boys have worn this outfit!*

9 Months Old!!

Weight: 21 lbs 6.5 oz (70%)

Height: 29 in (75%)

Head Circum: 18 5/8" (95%)

DHR is one sweet happy little man! He could use some help in the night time sleep department, however the past few nights have been a little better. His "typical" pattern is to fool us for 4-7 days then stop sleeping and screaming every 1-2 hours a night. Not fun!! Here's hoping this stops sooner than later.

He is crawling, cruising and working on standing without holding on. He also will use your leg or a toy (something 4-5 inches higher than the ground) to brace on and then come to standing. He doesn't use you to pull, just to balance. He REALLY wants to be able to run with the Big Boys.

He had a recheck with the allergist on Tuesday and we are to start trying "normal" formula and see if we see any of the severe reflux or "colicky" behavior come back. We are hoping it works out because it would be nice to not have to buy the super expensive formula anymore.

He is starting to do a little better with textures. He REALLY wants to eat and tries to eat any food he can get his hands on. He may gag a little but has put a slight hold on the gagging until he forcefully vomits. (By the way...over the years I keep saying I wanted new carpet in the living room...we are both SO GLAD that never happened...this carpet has seen more baby vomit and spit up than the other two Boys combined and heck throw in the few times the dogs have puked on the floor too.)

Baby D is babbling a lot. He still prefers "baba." He started getting a runny nose on Tuesday and now that he is feeling cruddy he will crawl after me crying "Mama." Overall even with a cold he is pretty happy except for at bedtime.

He laughs at a lot of things and really tries to provoke anyone to talk or repeat his sounds when you are in the car. If you oblige he will laugh so hard, which of course keeps the "conversation" going.

He is having a little bit of stranger anxiety and definitely clings to Mommy. Daddy will get home from work and try to help relieve the duties of Kiddo holding and the rotten little booger will fuss and fuss until I hold him again. It is nice to know he loves me that much but a little break and giving Daddy some holding time would be REALLY nice. BUT, he will also pull the 180 and go only for Daddy on some days. He likes to keep us on our toes and reiterate that HE is the Baby. :)

Baby D is a handful of fun and work. He adores his Big Brothers and any other "Big Kids" that give him the time of day. He loves to jiggle the dogs tags on their collars. He LOVES to pull hair and give super sloppy slimy kisses. He is so into kisses that he grabs your face to hold it still and lick your face/mouth. He also likes to lick windows/doors or mirrors.

He will wave to people and say a sound like "HIII" it is more of a heavy breathing but he makes an effort to make the different sound while waving.

Oh yes and Tuesday while at the allergist he decided to step. He did not "take" a step but he lifted one foot off the ground and put it back where it started.

He likes to push toys around and attempt to walk behind them. He is quick to get into things, he has eaten goldfish and animal crackers. (He attacks his brothers while they snack.) He has had a taste of chocolate milk and lemonade. (We have learned he can drink out of all kinds of sippy cups.) He also loves to eat/chew on paper.

Like we said, he keeps us on our toes. He pulls cups off of end tables, furniture, he goes for things on the edge of the kitchen table but has little success there. Whew. Soon we know that no where will be "safe" from him.

He also covers ground REALLY fast. This is a comment we hear a lot. If he sees an open door he books it and will crawl on out.

Oh yes..and he can climb stairs.

Well, I think that is enough of a jumble of how much Daniel keeps us on our toes.

Boy oh boy is he going to give us a run for our money!!

Logey

It is time to post all about Our Sweet Little Bit. We have a few more "new" things going on with Bitty Boo. We are still spending a lot of time at appointments of all kinds and are still in our future for quite some time. In hopes that he was having allergies to something he was eating (ie: breaking out in hives) and hoping that may be causing some of his eating "issues" it turns out Logan is not allergic to anything they could test for. **Bummer**

Logan is starting to repeat more things you say and every so often spontaneously say a few new words. There is still no verbal communication of needs but for how things were going we are very pleased! This is leaps and bounds.

Logan is also starting to respond to us asking him to get down or sit down. OK, this sounds odd..if you don't know our Logey. He spends a lot of time climbing up furniture. Sofas, desks, tables, you name it.. he has more than likely found a way on top of it. He is not always swift on getting down or responding when we ask him to get down or to sit instead of stand on something. He has increased to listening at least 50% of the time to sit instead of 0%. Like a lot of kids, he is right back up where he shouldn't be within about 1 second of sitting down.

There is more but I don't want ramble on and don't quite have the time to better organize my thoughts.

We were on a wait list to schedule with a developmental pediatrician and just got a call on Monday that we were able to schedule. This will be a good 6 month or so process with this Doctor however, we just want to get the ball rolling.

We are so happy with all that is changing for the better for him. We just want him to be less frustrated with his typical day. We want to learn and have all the help we can in finding out what if any needs he has and how best to meet them.

I know this is probably not written the best and kind of vague but I just want to put an update on some of Logan's doings and going ons.