We went out this evening and met Bryan at Sam's for "dinner out" (aka the $1.50 hot dog combo at Sam's Club).
As we were getting ready to go, Ian was fiddling around with something...I asked him what he was doing, and he said, "I'm getting these ear plugs for Daddy just in case he forgot his and he needs them for riding his motorcycle home."
So cute!
And he stuffed them in his pockets and remembered to give them to Bryan just in case he needed them.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Good Idea
I found this idea in the latest Family Fun magazine.
I got a bunch of old frames from a thrift store, took out the backing and the glass, spraypainted them and hung them on the wall. Then I nailed a binder clip inside each one.
...and voila! A place to display Ian's art projects that is clutter-free and easily interchangeable!!
I got a bunch of old frames from a thrift store, took out the backing and the glass, spraypainted them and hung them on the wall. Then I nailed a binder clip inside each one.
...and voila! A place to display Ian's art projects that is clutter-free and easily interchangeable!!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Total Coincidence
Chasey was ransacking the magazine basket this morning and he looked super cute in his little red jammies that I just found in Ian's hand-me-downs...
And I was going through the photos today and noticed what he was reading! I swear, this was not staged!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Friendly Reminder!
We will be walking in the Charlotte Buddy Walk in just 9 days! If you haven't already, and have been meaning to...please click here to donate on behalf of Chase.
The Buddy Walk is the biggest fundraiser of the year for our local Down Syndrome Association, but also provides funds to the National Down Syndrome Society. The money that we raise benefits national education, research and advocacy initiatives, as well as local programs, such as new parent groups like the one that I run and Camp Horizon for our local teens.
Every little bit helps. Thank you!!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
It's Never Too Early For Your First Colonoscopy!
Proving me to be a fool once again, Chase did not clear out in classic Chase fashion like I was so sure he would. They said, "Miralax." I said, "No problem! Poop is not something that is scarce around here!"
Yeah. So Chase was not a fan of drinking 4 ounces of "juice" every hour. Especially when we had to continue to dose him every 1/2 hour throughout the night. Bryan and I took shifts...It was bad. Chase was tired, we were tired. No one wanted anything to do with juice.
OH. And I got the pre-op instructions in the mail Tuesday afternoon and they were drastically different from what the scheduling guy had told me on the phone. The phone guy said to start before dinner, nothing but clear liquids 4 hours before the procedure. The written instructions said nothing to eat the day before, Miralax all day, nothing to eat or drink 4 hours before the procedure.
Needless to say, I was freaking out, the scenarios running through my mind: a) we'd have to reschedule completely because we didn't do it right and we'd have to go through all of this again another day OR b) we'd have to wait all day long at the hospital until Chase was clear and he had an empty stomach for 4 hours.
So, back to the night from hell. Chase was really good natured about everything...just kind of put up with us as we changed him and tried to trick him into drinking Miralax instead of giving him his pacifier. He just continued to bat away the cup and went back to sleep every time we gave up and laid him down.
The best part of the night (morning? I think it was like 3:30am...) was when I picked him up from his crib, then tried to slide in between the glider and the ottoman to give him the juice. But instead of sitting down gracefully, I, in my stupor, slipped on Goodnight Moon, did a crazy try-not-to-fall dance around and above the ottoman, somehow stepped over it and turned my ankle, did a half twist in the air, and landed on my shoulder and head on the ground by the door. All while holding Chase. I never let go of him (he was fine-- I think a little confused as to why he and Mommy were laying flat on the floor in the middle of the night), and so I didn't break my fall at all. Ow, ow, and damn! I felt so freaking stupid, but I couldn't get up without putting Chase down, so I had to yell at the monitor and hope that Bryan heard me (and that I didn't wake Ian up!). All I could think about was that "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!" commercial. This would be a perfect time to have one of those necklaces on. He saved us-- don't worry. And I'm fine. A little sore. And the Wii Fit is going to have to wait for a while til my ankle is better... :(
Anywho. I called the hospital this morning and the nurse sounded like it wouldn't be a problem. So we went in.
Chase was fine. He's pretty funny as a drunk (those drugs are good!). The doctor said that he could suction out anything that was up there (gross!) and not to worry about it. He carried him back to surgery at 10:30, and then came out to meet with us when he was done at 11:15.
So-- his findings: Chase has swelling and irritation at both ends, his stomach lining is like "leather" (ew?) and he has swollen and inflamed lymph nodules in his lower intestine. All it really tells us is that something is definitely irritating his entire GI tract. He took a bunch of biopsies to send to Buffalo (who knew? I should have told him we would be up there in two weeks...we could have visited!) and we'll know exactly why he has all this inflammation when the results come back. He seemed really confident that anything that he found would easily be fixed with medication, so yay.
That's really it. Chasey drank some milk today and ate some dinner (and Bryan just reminded me that we stopped for lunch on the way home from the hospital and Chase ate 1/2 of our french fries!). He's happy and active tonight and doesn't seem at all offended about the places that we took pictures of him today.
Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. I'm so glad this part is over. Now we can sit around and wait for the next step.
Yeah. So Chase was not a fan of drinking 4 ounces of "juice" every hour. Especially when we had to continue to dose him every 1/2 hour throughout the night. Bryan and I took shifts...It was bad. Chase was tired, we were tired. No one wanted anything to do with juice.
OH. And I got the pre-op instructions in the mail Tuesday afternoon and they were drastically different from what the scheduling guy had told me on the phone. The phone guy said to start before dinner, nothing but clear liquids 4 hours before the procedure. The written instructions said nothing to eat the day before, Miralax all day, nothing to eat or drink 4 hours before the procedure.
Needless to say, I was freaking out, the scenarios running through my mind: a) we'd have to reschedule completely because we didn't do it right and we'd have to go through all of this again another day OR b) we'd have to wait all day long at the hospital until Chase was clear and he had an empty stomach for 4 hours.
So, back to the night from hell. Chase was really good natured about everything...just kind of put up with us as we changed him and tried to trick him into drinking Miralax instead of giving him his pacifier. He just continued to bat away the cup and went back to sleep every time we gave up and laid him down.
The best part of the night (morning? I think it was like 3:30am...) was when I picked him up from his crib, then tried to slide in between the glider and the ottoman to give him the juice. But instead of sitting down gracefully, I, in my stupor, slipped on Goodnight Moon, did a crazy try-not-to-fall dance around and above the ottoman, somehow stepped over it and turned my ankle, did a half twist in the air, and landed on my shoulder and head on the ground by the door. All while holding Chase. I never let go of him (he was fine-- I think a little confused as to why he and Mommy were laying flat on the floor in the middle of the night), and so I didn't break my fall at all. Ow, ow, and damn! I felt so freaking stupid, but I couldn't get up without putting Chase down, so I had to yell at the monitor and hope that Bryan heard me (and that I didn't wake Ian up!). All I could think about was that "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!" commercial. This would be a perfect time to have one of those necklaces on. He saved us-- don't worry. And I'm fine. A little sore. And the Wii Fit is going to have to wait for a while til my ankle is better... :(
Anywho. I called the hospital this morning and the nurse sounded like it wouldn't be a problem. So we went in.
Chase was fine. He's pretty funny as a drunk (those drugs are good!). The doctor said that he could suction out anything that was up there (gross!) and not to worry about it. He carried him back to surgery at 10:30, and then came out to meet with us when he was done at 11:15.
So-- his findings: Chase has swelling and irritation at both ends, his stomach lining is like "leather" (ew?) and he has swollen and inflamed lymph nodules in his lower intestine. All it really tells us is that something is definitely irritating his entire GI tract. He took a bunch of biopsies to send to Buffalo (who knew? I should have told him we would be up there in two weeks...we could have visited!) and we'll know exactly why he has all this inflammation when the results come back. He seemed really confident that anything that he found would easily be fixed with medication, so yay.
That's really it. Chasey drank some milk today and ate some dinner (and Bryan just reminded me that we stopped for lunch on the way home from the hospital and Chase ate 1/2 of our french fries!). He's happy and active tonight and doesn't seem at all offended about the places that we took pictures of him today.
Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. I'm so glad this part is over. Now we can sit around and wait for the next step.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Good Friends
We've met so many awesome friends through Chase.
Here are Drew, Annabelle, Zack, Ian and Chase...all making an effort NOT to look at the camera.
Drew and Annabelle are 2 weeks younger than Ian, and Zack is 5 weeks older than Chase. We had an awesome cookout with their family this weekend, and look forward to more good times :)
BTW, that photo was one of about 5 million that I took. Here are some of the ones that didn't make it:
Here are Drew, Annabelle, Zack, Ian and Chase...all making an effort NOT to look at the camera.
Drew and Annabelle are 2 weeks younger than Ian, and Zack is 5 weeks older than Chase. We had an awesome cookout with their family this weekend, and look forward to more good times :)
BTW, that photo was one of about 5 million that I took. Here are some of the ones that didn't make it:
Isn't It Ironic?
We began the prep for Chase's endoscopy/colonoscopy this evening. My instructions were to keep giving him Miralax every hour until he has a "clear, watery bowel movement." (I know, my posts are always full of TMI...sorry.)
And just in case you haven't been following, Chase is going in because of his very very frequent movements.
So, it's 10:15pm. Chase has had 3 doses of Miralax. I've woken him up twice to check his diaper and administer another dose...
...and the poopiest boy on the planet has given up ONE freaking wet diaper so far.
That's it. The end. Nothing else.
I have a feeling it is going to be a long night...
And just in case you haven't been following, Chase is going in because of his very very frequent movements.
So, it's 10:15pm. Chase has had 3 doses of Miralax. I've woken him up twice to check his diaper and administer another dose...
...and the poopiest boy on the planet has given up ONE freaking wet diaper so far.
That's it. The end. Nothing else.
I have a feeling it is going to be a long night...
Monday, September 22, 2008
Glamorous
As I was making lunch with Ian today, Chase played in the cupboards by our feet. I heard Chase beginning to spit up, so I quickly got a napkin and wiped him up.
Ian looked at me incredulously and said, "Mommy! You cleaned up Chasey's puke before he played in it! Good job! You are a pukemaster!"
Yeah, I guess I am. :)
Oh, and on that note, Friday night Ian was complaining of a stomach ache. He frequently has tummy aches because I recently found some Dora Children's Tums, and they pretty much taste like candy. He was fine through dinner, bathtime, and storytime, and didn't complain about his stomach until I turned out the lights and told him to go to sleep. It sounded like classic bedtime-delaying. I convinced him to lay still and let his body rest. He was quiet for a while. I had time to clean up dinner and sit down for exactly 1 second when he called again from his room, still complaining about his belly. I gave in and brought him a Tums, and as he chewed it, he told me that his stomach felt sooooo much better. Great. Now go to sleep for Pete's sake.
When he heard Bryan come home from volleyball, he yelled again. I filled Bryan in on Ian's antics of the night, and he went upstairs.
Well, it turns out he wasn't faking. He was in his bed, surrounded by a HUGE puddle of vomit. Gross. Gross. Gross. Bryan handled cleaning up Eenie, and I cleaned up the mess. So, yes, I absolutely am the pukemaster.
And I felt really really bad for thinking that Ian was the most dramatic tummy-ache faker in the world. I'm going to go ahead and file that in my "Awesome Mom Moments" box.
Ian looked at me incredulously and said, "Mommy! You cleaned up Chasey's puke before he played in it! Good job! You are a pukemaster!"
Yeah, I guess I am. :)
Oh, and on that note, Friday night Ian was complaining of a stomach ache. He frequently has tummy aches because I recently found some Dora Children's Tums, and they pretty much taste like candy. He was fine through dinner, bathtime, and storytime, and didn't complain about his stomach until I turned out the lights and told him to go to sleep. It sounded like classic bedtime-delaying. I convinced him to lay still and let his body rest. He was quiet for a while. I had time to clean up dinner and sit down for exactly 1 second when he called again from his room, still complaining about his belly. I gave in and brought him a Tums, and as he chewed it, he told me that his stomach felt sooooo much better. Great. Now go to sleep for Pete's sake.
When he heard Bryan come home from volleyball, he yelled again. I filled Bryan in on Ian's antics of the night, and he went upstairs.
Well, it turns out he wasn't faking. He was in his bed, surrounded by a HUGE puddle of vomit. Gross. Gross. Gross. Bryan handled cleaning up Eenie, and I cleaned up the mess. So, yes, I absolutely am the pukemaster.
And I felt really really bad for thinking that Ian was the most dramatic tummy-ache faker in the world. I'm going to go ahead and file that in my "Awesome Mom Moments" box.
For all the Moms out there...
Do you ever feel like you get lost...? You spend so much time being efficient and taking care of everyone else, and you try not to be a big pain in the ass...try not to be needy or moody or high maintainance or whatever...And you feel like you've lost yourself?
What does it mean to be a woman and a mother? How do you do it?
How do you find the right balance of taking care of everyone else and having someone take care of you? How do you attain that feeling of independence and maturity and self-sufficient-ness when you still need that feeling of someone taking care of you?
Maybe I'm just a lunatic. I'm reading Captivating; Unveiling the Mysteries of a Woman's Soul by John and Stasi Eldredge, and I find that I totally agree with everything that they write about...but I didn't know it before...or I just couldn't pinpoint my needs before. Does that make sense?
I think as women, we have an innate need to be pursued, wanted, desired, fought for, romanced, and cared for...but at the same time, we long to play a part in a story bigger than us, to be needed, to be strong, to be independent and dependable. But how do you do that? How do you do that and not turn into a whiny, complicated mess?
I just don't know. Ideas, anyone?
What does it mean to be a woman and a mother? How do you do it?
How do you find the right balance of taking care of everyone else and having someone take care of you? How do you attain that feeling of independence and maturity and self-sufficient-ness when you still need that feeling of someone taking care of you?
Maybe I'm just a lunatic. I'm reading Captivating; Unveiling the Mysteries of a Woman's Soul by John and Stasi Eldredge, and I find that I totally agree with everything that they write about...but I didn't know it before...or I just couldn't pinpoint my needs before. Does that make sense?
I think as women, we have an innate need to be pursued, wanted, desired, fought for, romanced, and cared for...but at the same time, we long to play a part in a story bigger than us, to be needed, to be strong, to be independent and dependable. But how do you do that? How do you do that and not turn into a whiny, complicated mess?
I just don't know. Ideas, anyone?
Friday, September 19, 2008
Who Woulda Thunk?
That I'd be ecstatic about my 1 year old eating Marshmallow Mateys for breakfast? Ever?
Yes, Chase is eating today. I don't even care what it is. Honestly, I tried giving him pieces of Whoppers this morning before I found a hit with the sugar coated marshmallows...
Yes, Chase is eating today. I don't even care what it is. Honestly, I tried giving him pieces of Whoppers this morning before I found a hit with the sugar coated marshmallows...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Sigh.
I had my hopes all up on a high from yesterday's good eating day.
And today Chase won't eat again. And the pooh issues are back.
Not lactose intolerant my ass.
And today Chase won't eat again. And the pooh issues are back.
Not lactose intolerant my ass.
The Sims
I just reread my last few posts and was reminded of the Sims. Did anyone ever play that game (Rhiannon!)?
You have control over little simulated people, and you have to make sure they are clean, fed, and entertained. If they are lonely, you have to make them meet other people, if they are tired, they need to sleep. If they are bored, you have to provide some sort of entertainment...reading, watching TV, going to a party...etc.
Reflecting on my last few posts...I wonder if someone's not playing Sims with my life...?
Fun and Games
And sometimes we need something to take our minds off more pressing matters...:
Wii Outdoor Challenge was recommended to me by Chase's play therapist (Thanks, Carol!!) for increasing Chase's fitness level. Lol. No, it's for the big people :) And I think Eenie will like it, too.
Bryan and I tried it out until after eleven last night, even though we were tired from a long day and both still fighting a bout of something nasty. It's that fun :) I went to bed expecting to be sore this morning, but so far, so good. The tube slider challenge really works your upper arms, the whack-a-mole challenge makes you think and move fast, and I'm pretty sure I have never jumped so much (try the hurdles or the jumprope challenge)on one occasion since that one time I took a kick boxing class and never went back...
Anyway. Fun stuff, and a needed mental break. You should try it.
Wii Outdoor Challenge was recommended to me by Chase's play therapist (Thanks, Carol!!) for increasing Chase's fitness level. Lol. No, it's for the big people :) And I think Eenie will like it, too.
Bryan and I tried it out until after eleven last night, even though we were tired from a long day and both still fighting a bout of something nasty. It's that fun :) I went to bed expecting to be sore this morning, but so far, so good. The tube slider challenge really works your upper arms, the whack-a-mole challenge makes you think and move fast, and I'm pretty sure I have never jumped so much (try the hurdles or the jumprope challenge)on one occasion since that one time I took a kick boxing class and never went back...
Anyway. Fun stuff, and a needed mental break. You should try it.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
GI Visit
First of all, I need to tell everyone how much I love my ped practice. This morning the dr that we saw yesterday called me and told me the results personally. She then faxed them all over to Jim, the GI doc, and told me to make sure to push for the scope. And then, after we saw the GI guy, our regular ped called my cell just to check in on us and see what was going on. It's nice to know that Chase is just more than a chart at the office.
So we go to see Jim, and Bryan even takes off work to join us (Thanks, Honey. I needed someone to lean on today). Jim asks about how Chase has been, we go through all the ups and downs. He also asks about Bryan's motorcycle and they talk about that for like a half hour. Then we get back to Chase. And he says that he'd like to do a scope and take some biopsies to see what's going on down there. Perfect. He also tells us that the lactose intolerance is unlikely, but not impossible. So, in order to get some extra fat and calories in Chase, we should give him whipping cream. And butter.
So, I'm waiting on the call to schedule the scope. And Chase has already downed a pint and a half of heavy whipping cream. For all of you who have never figured out how many calories are in a pint of whipping cream, it is 16 servings of 50 calories...yes, 800 calories. And 88g of fat.
Chase ate pretty well today, and even put some chicken nuggets and fries from Chik-fil-A in his mouth (which he promptly removed and threw on the floor...but at least he was INTERESTED!). He had lots of energy and even laughed and played this evening. So, yay! Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers :)
So we go to see Jim, and Bryan even takes off work to join us (Thanks, Honey. I needed someone to lean on today). Jim asks about how Chase has been, we go through all the ups and downs. He also asks about Bryan's motorcycle and they talk about that for like a half hour. Then we get back to Chase. And he says that he'd like to do a scope and take some biopsies to see what's going on down there. Perfect. He also tells us that the lactose intolerance is unlikely, but not impossible. So, in order to get some extra fat and calories in Chase, we should give him whipping cream. And butter.
So, I'm waiting on the call to schedule the scope. And Chase has already downed a pint and a half of heavy whipping cream. For all of you who have never figured out how many calories are in a pint of whipping cream, it is 16 servings of 50 calories...yes, 800 calories. And 88g of fat.
Chase ate pretty well today, and even put some chicken nuggets and fries from Chik-fil-A in his mouth (which he promptly removed and threw on the floor...but at least he was INTERESTED!). He had lots of energy and even laughed and played this evening. So, yay! Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers :)
Chasey Update
After he was lethargic all Sunday, and continues to refuse to eat...I took Chase to the pediatrician again yesterday. We saw a different doctor than we normally see.
After I explained our whole story, she said, "Ok, you have a choice. You can bring him to the hospital now, or you can take him home and monitor him very closely as we wait for the results of the tests we're running today."
yipes.
To say that I'm upset doesn't even touch it. Every time I imagine trying to split my time between home and hospital again, I start to cry. Every time I imagine Chase subjected to any kind of procedure, I cry. Every time I sit down to feed him, and he throws everything I give him on the floor and then puts his head down on his tray, I feel like a total failure. Seriously. I can't get my child to eat. What is wrong with me?
Basically, he's lost a pound in a month. He's borderline dehydrated. No one can tell me what's wrong...yet. The ped drew blood and took 2 dirty diapers for tests. She's running everything. Hopefully there will be some answer this time. Maybe he's contracted some sort of rare and nasty bacteria and all we need is some super antibiotic. I don't even want to think about the other possibilities.
We're off to the GI guy again this afternoon. The ped told me to push for a GI scope, so we can actually see what is going on down there.
On a positive note, Chase has eaten some breakfast today and drank about 6 oz of milk with a scoop of infant formula in it. He's been pretty active this morning and has even been almost happy most of the time.
So, yeah. We could use some prayers and thought in the next week or so. We need some answers. We need some solutions. We need for Chase to eat. We need our sanity back.
After I explained our whole story, she said, "Ok, you have a choice. You can bring him to the hospital now, or you can take him home and monitor him very closely as we wait for the results of the tests we're running today."
yipes.
To say that I'm upset doesn't even touch it. Every time I imagine trying to split my time between home and hospital again, I start to cry. Every time I imagine Chase subjected to any kind of procedure, I cry. Every time I sit down to feed him, and he throws everything I give him on the floor and then puts his head down on his tray, I feel like a total failure. Seriously. I can't get my child to eat. What is wrong with me?
Basically, he's lost a pound in a month. He's borderline dehydrated. No one can tell me what's wrong...yet. The ped drew blood and took 2 dirty diapers for tests. She's running everything. Hopefully there will be some answer this time. Maybe he's contracted some sort of rare and nasty bacteria and all we need is some super antibiotic. I don't even want to think about the other possibilities.
We're off to the GI guy again this afternoon. The ped told me to push for a GI scope, so we can actually see what is going on down there.
On a positive note, Chase has eaten some breakfast today and drank about 6 oz of milk with a scoop of infant formula in it. He's been pretty active this morning and has even been almost happy most of the time.
So, yeah. We could use some prayers and thought in the next week or so. We need some answers. We need some solutions. We need for Chase to eat. We need our sanity back.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Halloween Ideas
I've been browsing the Halloween displays, trying to decide on the perfect costumes for the boys this year. I know Ian would like to be Superman-Skeleton-Viking-Motorcycle Guy-Boxer, but I really really hate the idea of buying a storebought costume that won't fit just right and that 20 other little dudes will be running around in. I admit it, I am a costume snob.
Last year's Tin Man and Flying Monkey turned out pretty good, I think.
And the cowboy from the year before was not too bad, either.
I know that the Candy Corn costume did kind of resemble a pilgrim girl, and worse yet, a KKK member, but it was my first attempt at a kid costume.
So what to do this year?
I'd like the kids to match, so I'm leaning towards dressing them as matching boxers (prise fighters, not underwear!). It would be easy to make but not look too cheesey.
While I was looking for ideas online today, I came across these that I'm really trying to resist the urge to use...Although I can just imagine Ian and Chase walking around as "Pains in the Butt", and I'm sure Bryan would happily go as the "Girls Gone Wild Camera Man." If you are struggling for ideas, help yourself!
1. God's Gift to Women
Find a box large enough to fit around your body. Cut some holes for your arms and head, and then cover the box with wrapping paper. Add a large bow. Attach a tag that says "TO: Women, FROM: God".
2. Black-Eyed Pea
Take a fabric pen and draw or pin a giant "P" on a shirt. Put black makeup around one eye and you have become a "Black-Eyed P."
3.Ceiling Fan
Write "Go Ceilings!" on the front of your shirt. Add other gear if you want (pom poms, big foam finger, etc.) And don't forget to cheer!
4. Piece of Gum Stuck to Your Shoe
Dress in all pink and attach a shoe to the top of your head.
5. Babysitter
Strap a baby doll to your behind and sit on it.
6. Quarter Pounder
Carry a quarter and a hammer. If someone asks what your costume is, put the quarter down and pound it with the hammer.
7. Nudist on Strike
Dress in normal clothes and carry a sign that says "Nudist on Strike."
8. Golf Tee
Attach a golf ball to a headband and wear it on top of your head.
9. E-Mail
Dress as a man (if you are not one already!) Tape an "E" on chest. "E"-male. (If Bryan did this, I could wear a paperclip and go as an attachment!)
10. Self-Absorbed
Attach sponges all over your body.
11. Someone You Can Count On
Wear all black clothes. Cut out big, bright numbers and attach them to your clothes.
12. Girls Gone Wild Camerman
Wear a white t-shirt with "Girls Gone Wild Camera Crew" printed on the front and back. Carry a video camera. For added effect, pass out release forms.
13. Magic 8 Ball
Wear all black. Cut a large 8 out of white cloth, cardboard or paper and pin or tape it to your back. When people ask you what you are, tell them "reply hazy, try again," or "cannot predict now." Or tell them to shake you and ask you a question.
14. Pink Floyd
Wear pink clothes. Add a name tag that says "Floyd."
15. Peter Pan
Put a pan on your head and a "Hello My Name Is Peter" sticker on your shirt.
16. Pain in the Butt
Attach a bandage or large bandaid to your bottom.
17. Booby Trap
Hang a mousetrap on a string around your neck so it hangs in front of your chest.
18. Mastercard Ad
Wear whatever clothing you choose. Attach a sign to your back that says "Shirt: $30...Jeans: $50...Shoes: $70......Halloween costume that took minimal effort: Priceless.
19. Black Mail
Wear all black, and attach a postage stamp to your chest.
20. Head of Lettuce
Attach real or fake lettuce leaves to a stocking hat.
Last year's Tin Man and Flying Monkey turned out pretty good, I think.
And the cowboy from the year before was not too bad, either.
I know that the Candy Corn costume did kind of resemble a pilgrim girl, and worse yet, a KKK member, but it was my first attempt at a kid costume.
So what to do this year?
I'd like the kids to match, so I'm leaning towards dressing them as matching boxers (prise fighters, not underwear!). It would be easy to make but not look too cheesey.
While I was looking for ideas online today, I came across these that I'm really trying to resist the urge to use...Although I can just imagine Ian and Chase walking around as "Pains in the Butt", and I'm sure Bryan would happily go as the "Girls Gone Wild Camera Man." If you are struggling for ideas, help yourself!
1. God's Gift to Women
Find a box large enough to fit around your body. Cut some holes for your arms and head, and then cover the box with wrapping paper. Add a large bow. Attach a tag that says "TO: Women, FROM: God".
2. Black-Eyed Pea
Take a fabric pen and draw or pin a giant "P" on a shirt. Put black makeup around one eye and you have become a "Black-Eyed P."
3.Ceiling Fan
Write "Go Ceilings!" on the front of your shirt. Add other gear if you want (pom poms, big foam finger, etc.) And don't forget to cheer!
4. Piece of Gum Stuck to Your Shoe
Dress in all pink and attach a shoe to the top of your head.
5. Babysitter
Strap a baby doll to your behind and sit on it.
6. Quarter Pounder
Carry a quarter and a hammer. If someone asks what your costume is, put the quarter down and pound it with the hammer.
7. Nudist on Strike
Dress in normal clothes and carry a sign that says "Nudist on Strike."
8. Golf Tee
Attach a golf ball to a headband and wear it on top of your head.
9. E-Mail
Dress as a man (if you are not one already!) Tape an "E" on chest. "E"-male. (If Bryan did this, I could wear a paperclip and go as an attachment!)
10. Self-Absorbed
Attach sponges all over your body.
11. Someone You Can Count On
Wear all black clothes. Cut out big, bright numbers and attach them to your clothes.
12. Girls Gone Wild Camerman
Wear a white t-shirt with "Girls Gone Wild Camera Crew" printed on the front and back. Carry a video camera. For added effect, pass out release forms.
13. Magic 8 Ball
Wear all black. Cut a large 8 out of white cloth, cardboard or paper and pin or tape it to your back. When people ask you what you are, tell them "reply hazy, try again," or "cannot predict now." Or tell them to shake you and ask you a question.
14. Pink Floyd
Wear pink clothes. Add a name tag that says "Floyd."
15. Peter Pan
Put a pan on your head and a "Hello My Name Is Peter" sticker on your shirt.
16. Pain in the Butt
Attach a bandage or large bandaid to your bottom.
17. Booby Trap
Hang a mousetrap on a string around your neck so it hangs in front of your chest.
18. Mastercard Ad
Wear whatever clothing you choose. Attach a sign to your back that says "Shirt: $30...Jeans: $50...Shoes: $70......Halloween costume that took minimal effort: Priceless.
19. Black Mail
Wear all black, and attach a postage stamp to your chest.
20. Head of Lettuce
Attach real or fake lettuce leaves to a stocking hat.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Happy Birthday, Baby!
Now that I found the cord to my new camera, I have a hundred photos to post.
This is from August 18th...Happy Birthday, Bryan! Good thing you had Leah and Ian to help you blow out your candles, because you.are.old.
Love you :)
This is from August 18th...Happy Birthday, Bryan! Good thing you had Leah and Ian to help you blow out your candles, because you.are.old.
Love you :)
Going Postal
The other day I got this notice in my mailbox:
Now, honestly, I don't make a habit out of parking in front of the box. A friend came over for an hour-ish for a playdate with the kids, and the mailman happened to come by at that time.
Does this not look like the guy had a serious issue with me? Final Notice? And it's written in a kind of psychopathic-type scrawl...!
...Seriously? I feel like I've been told off. I'm going to spend the rest of my time in this house avoiding all contact with the mail carrier, and under constant worry that someone will park next to the mailbox, or the garbage man will leave my garbage can too close...Because what happens after the Final Notice??
I don't want to find out.
Now, honestly, I don't make a habit out of parking in front of the box. A friend came over for an hour-ish for a playdate with the kids, and the mailman happened to come by at that time.
Does this not look like the guy had a serious issue with me? Final Notice? And it's written in a kind of psychopathic-type scrawl...!
...Seriously? I feel like I've been told off. I'm going to spend the rest of my time in this house avoiding all contact with the mail carrier, and under constant worry that someone will park next to the mailbox, or the garbage man will leave my garbage can too close...Because what happens after the Final Notice??
I don't want to find out.
Bike Riding
A couple weekends ago we all got fitted for helmets,and loaded up the van and the boys and hit the road trails at Cane Creek Park.
Ian likes the trailer, but is deathly afraid of the bike seat. Chasey doesn't necessarily love sitting still in the bike seat, but as long as I kept moving, he was moderately amused...until he fell fast asleep.
The trails at the park were disappointingly short, so we did a few laps, then let the boys play on the playground before we packed everything up again.
Notes for next time:
*The bike trailer folds. It is much easier to pack in the car folded up. Sorry, Bryan. Next time it will be easier.
*Riding in the bike trailer is fun...but not as much fun as smooshing giant mushrooms with a big rock.
Ian likes the trailer, but is deathly afraid of the bike seat. Chasey doesn't necessarily love sitting still in the bike seat, but as long as I kept moving, he was moderately amused...until he fell fast asleep.
The trails at the park were disappointingly short, so we did a few laps, then let the boys play on the playground before we packed everything up again.
Notes for next time:
*The bike trailer folds. It is much easier to pack in the car folded up. Sorry, Bryan. Next time it will be easier.
*Riding in the bike trailer is fun...but not as much fun as smooshing giant mushrooms with a big rock.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Parenting.com
If anyone has a few minutes to spare (I know you are all sitting around with all the time in the world to do things...!), go to Parenting.com where they have posted several galleries of the cutest kids ever who happen to have 47, in honor of Down syndrome Awareness Month in October.
I haven't submitted a photo of Chase yet-- I have to wait until they open another gallery because the first FIVE are already filled! In the meantime, here is the photo that I made into the official Chase Face Buttons that our team will be wearing at the Buddy Walk this year on October 4th. (Yes, there is still time to donate!)
I haven't submitted a photo of Chase yet-- I have to wait until they open another gallery because the first FIVE are already filled! In the meantime, here is the photo that I made into the official Chase Face Buttons that our team will be wearing at the Buddy Walk this year on October 4th. (Yes, there is still time to donate!)
Tree of Happiness Revised
Chris told me that my #4 pick, ILEX butt paste, was not an acceptable happiness reason :)
So, my new and revised 4th thing that makes me happy is:
fresh cut flowers in my kitchen. I know it's impractical. I know they will eventually die, leaving random loose petals all over my kitchen table, and foul water in the vase which I will have to eventually wash out. But I love the scent, the colors, the vibrance, the natural beauty, the window to the outdoors that they bring. And it's fun tempting fate; wondering which child or cat is going to knock them over first.
So, my new and revised 4th thing that makes me happy is:
fresh cut flowers in my kitchen. I know it's impractical. I know they will eventually die, leaving random loose petals all over my kitchen table, and foul water in the vase which I will have to eventually wash out. But I love the scent, the colors, the vibrance, the natural beauty, the window to the outdoors that they bring. And it's fun tempting fate; wondering which child or cat is going to knock them over first.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Tree of Happiness Meme
Chris, over at Mothering by the Seat of My Pants, tagged me for this meme. I'll give it a go :)
**On a side note, the blogger that tagged Chris is at Our Jacob, and I blogstalked him and found the cutest, most adorable photo sequence that I have seen in a long time. I will be reading more about Jacob in the days to come!!**
So, Things That Make Me Happy (in no particular order):
1. My kids. As exasperating as they are sometimes, and despite the amount of poop that I deal with both in person and in conversation, I love those little dudes. And they always make me smile. Especially when Ian sings songs in the car that go like this: "And I'm sing-ing a soooong in the caaaar...and kids can't sit in the front seat...because they have to be saaaaaafe in the backseeeeeeeeeat in a carseeeeeeeat...but sometimes the buuuuckle...pinches my wooooooorm..." And when Chase roars back at Ian when they are wearing their Lion and Giraffe towels (yes, giraffes roar!), or crawls up onto the train table when no one is looking.
2. The newspaper and a cup of coffee. Sometimes, when we don't have anywhere to go or any therapists coming early, and when the stars and planets are perfectly aligned, I am especially efficient and manage to get both boys sitting at the table at the same time eating breakfast. I sneak in a few minutes to drink my coffee (assuming I've remembered to get the coffeepot ready the night before) and read the paper before Chase throws anything off his tray and Ian starts in on the "Mom-mees". I just love those moments of synching with the adult world, and enjoying my coffee before the chaos of the day begins.
3. Elevation Church. For the first time in my life I look forward to going to church on Sundays. It's uplifting, it brings me peace, it energizes me for the week, the music is awesome, the Pastor brings incredible, relevent messages time after time.
4. ILEX butt paste.
5. Yoga and Pilates. I have been horrible, horrible, horrible about going to the gym, and I will continue to be since I will be watching baby Will full time starting next week. I soooooo miss those classes. I really need to just bite it and do a DVD at home, but who has the time?
6. Spring and Fall. I love the in-between seasons. I'm looking forward to some good outdoor playing weather, and plan to take the boys to Cane Creek Park to explore the trails there this autumn. I'm also aiming to get my bike ready with the trailer to pull the boys when it cools down (right now they bake in there).
7. Candy Corn. 'Tis the season! I'm really trying to eat more whole foods and stick with fruits for my sweets...I guess there is no place for a whole bag of candy corn this year...*sigh*
8. A good book (and the time to read it). Anything. Trashy romances, Stephen King, Maeve Binchy, Brad Thor, Martha Beck, Mitch Album ...ooh, I just finished The Shack- soooo good!
9. A glass of wine on the front porch in a rainstorm.
10. MarioKart Wii. I admit it, I am addicted. Not good at it, but thoroughly addicted.
11. Trying new recipes/reading cookbooks. Yeah. I'm a dork like that. I love cooking, when I have the time and the energy.
12. My hubby, especially when I catch him reading to the boys before bed.
13. Going out to dinner. Something about good food and no kitchen to clean up. I am especially fond of an appetizer and a drink (without kids!) before a movie.
14. Clean sheets.
15. Family and friends. Of course you all make me happy :) Thanks for being there, always.
Ok. I tag Melanie, Grace, and Jennie. You're It!
**On a side note, the blogger that tagged Chris is at Our Jacob, and I blogstalked him and found the cutest, most adorable photo sequence that I have seen in a long time. I will be reading more about Jacob in the days to come!!**
So, Things That Make Me Happy (in no particular order):
1. My kids. As exasperating as they are sometimes, and despite the amount of poop that I deal with both in person and in conversation, I love those little dudes. And they always make me smile. Especially when Ian sings songs in the car that go like this: "And I'm sing-ing a soooong in the caaaar...and kids can't sit in the front seat...because they have to be saaaaaafe in the backseeeeeeeeeat in a carseeeeeeeat...but sometimes the buuuuckle...pinches my wooooooorm..." And when Chase roars back at Ian when they are wearing their Lion and Giraffe towels (yes, giraffes roar!), or crawls up onto the train table when no one is looking.
2. The newspaper and a cup of coffee. Sometimes, when we don't have anywhere to go or any therapists coming early, and when the stars and planets are perfectly aligned, I am especially efficient and manage to get both boys sitting at the table at the same time eating breakfast. I sneak in a few minutes to drink my coffee (assuming I've remembered to get the coffeepot ready the night before) and read the paper before Chase throws anything off his tray and Ian starts in on the "Mom-mees". I just love those moments of synching with the adult world, and enjoying my coffee before the chaos of the day begins.
3. Elevation Church. For the first time in my life I look forward to going to church on Sundays. It's uplifting, it brings me peace, it energizes me for the week, the music is awesome, the Pastor brings incredible, relevent messages time after time.
4. ILEX butt paste.
5. Yoga and Pilates. I have been horrible, horrible, horrible about going to the gym, and I will continue to be since I will be watching baby Will full time starting next week. I soooooo miss those classes. I really need to just bite it and do a DVD at home, but who has the time?
6. Spring and Fall. I love the in-between seasons. I'm looking forward to some good outdoor playing weather, and plan to take the boys to Cane Creek Park to explore the trails there this autumn. I'm also aiming to get my bike ready with the trailer to pull the boys when it cools down (right now they bake in there).
7. Candy Corn. 'Tis the season! I'm really trying to eat more whole foods and stick with fruits for my sweets...I guess there is no place for a whole bag of candy corn this year...*sigh*
8. A good book (and the time to read it). Anything. Trashy romances, Stephen King, Maeve Binchy, Brad Thor, Martha Beck, Mitch Album ...ooh, I just finished The Shack- soooo good!
9. A glass of wine on the front porch in a rainstorm.
10. MarioKart Wii. I admit it, I am addicted. Not good at it, but thoroughly addicted.
11. Trying new recipes/reading cookbooks. Yeah. I'm a dork like that. I love cooking, when I have the time and the energy.
12. My hubby, especially when I catch him reading to the boys before bed.
13. Going out to dinner. Something about good food and no kitchen to clean up. I am especially fond of an appetizer and a drink (without kids!) before a movie.
14. Clean sheets.
15. Family and friends. Of course you all make me happy :) Thanks for being there, always.
Ok. I tag Melanie, Grace, and Jennie. You're It!
Random Update
I seem to be doing a lot of these lately.
I've been pretty productive lately and am feeling pretty good about it. I mowed and trimmed our jungle of a lawn yesterday and today (It was a two day process). Laundry is kind of caught up and my house isn't a disaster area, so that's good.
We think we have an answer (cross your fingers) for Chase's butt problems. The GI dr gave us some solutions, but really no answers. So I consulted Dr. Google and I believe Chase has gastroenteritis caused by a lactose intolerance (not an allergy, which is why it didn't show in the previous tests), which contributes to the malabsorption of nutrients during digestion because his little intestinal track is so imflamed that it moves everything along superfast. We've taken him off milk products and he's on a strict BRAT diet while his butt heals. In the 2 days he's been off milk, I already see a difference. Seriously, I should get paid for this. How much did I just pay the GI guy to tell me to give him Metamucil and Immodium??? Oy.
Oh, also, thanks to the Pull-Thru Network, I found an incredible butt paste for Chase's raging diaper rash. It's called ILEX paste, and you put it on and it adheres to the skin so that when your child poohs all the time, it will protect his heiney so it has a fighting chance to heal. We're on day two of it here and his butt is looking a hundred times better already. Woot!
Speaking of butts, Ian told me the other day that his "underwear is itching on the cheeks of his butt". LOL. He freaking cracks me up so much.
I just realized that the scroll feature on my touch pad isn't working anymore. Crappy.
Well, Chasey is waking up from his nap, so I will leave it at that. I did finally find our MI trip pictures, so I will make an attempt to post them today...
I've been pretty productive lately and am feeling pretty good about it. I mowed and trimmed our jungle of a lawn yesterday and today (It was a two day process). Laundry is kind of caught up and my house isn't a disaster area, so that's good.
We think we have an answer (cross your fingers) for Chase's butt problems. The GI dr gave us some solutions, but really no answers. So I consulted Dr. Google and I believe Chase has gastroenteritis caused by a lactose intolerance (not an allergy, which is why it didn't show in the previous tests), which contributes to the malabsorption of nutrients during digestion because his little intestinal track is so imflamed that it moves everything along superfast. We've taken him off milk products and he's on a strict BRAT diet while his butt heals. In the 2 days he's been off milk, I already see a difference. Seriously, I should get paid for this. How much did I just pay the GI guy to tell me to give him Metamucil and Immodium??? Oy.
Oh, also, thanks to the Pull-Thru Network, I found an incredible butt paste for Chase's raging diaper rash. It's called ILEX paste, and you put it on and it adheres to the skin so that when your child poohs all the time, it will protect his heiney so it has a fighting chance to heal. We're on day two of it here and his butt is looking a hundred times better already. Woot!
Speaking of butts, Ian told me the other day that his "underwear is itching on the cheeks of his butt". LOL. He freaking cracks me up so much.
I just realized that the scroll feature on my touch pad isn't working anymore. Crappy.
Well, Chasey is waking up from his nap, so I will leave it at that. I did finally find our MI trip pictures, so I will make an attempt to post them today...
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Full Stiller
I'm going to stay out of the Tropic Thunder banter, and just leave it at I don't agree with it, I don't think it's funny, I think it's ignorant. I'm not going to protest it, I'm not going to ask my friends and family not to see it, but I will ask everyone to just think about what equals funny and what does not.
Anyway. I came across this t-shirt as I was browsing shirts for the boys to wear for the Buddy Walk. I think it is an appropriate response:
Anyway. I came across this t-shirt as I was browsing shirts for the boys to wear for the Buddy Walk. I think it is an appropriate response:
Oh, Boy.
We were playing at Tiff's house yesterday...the moms and the babies were inside, and Ian and Kenna were eating popsicles in the garage.
Suddenly, I heard Ian screaming/crying.
I went into the garage, and this is the story that I got:
Apparently, Ian was holding onto the bottom of the garage door when Kenna 'accidentally' pushed the button to make the door go up. Ian said she made it go 'way high when I was holding on' and he was dangling from the top of the garage. Kenna tried to help him down (can you imagine this? Kenna is 7 and probably 40 pounds soaking wet, Ian is almost her size but a few inches shorter) but he fell anyway. Ian landed pretty hard on his hands and needed 'a ginormous bandaid for my hurting hands' but settled for the ice that Kenna got for him.
Ok. I know that playing on the garage door is not the safest possible activity for my 3 year old, and shame on me for not watching them closer...but that's funny, no?
I asked Ian what lesson he learned from all of this, and he said, 'Don't accidentally push the garage button and hang from the door.'
Suddenly, I heard Ian screaming/crying.
I went into the garage, and this is the story that I got:
Apparently, Ian was holding onto the bottom of the garage door when Kenna 'accidentally' pushed the button to make the door go up. Ian said she made it go 'way high when I was holding on' and he was dangling from the top of the garage. Kenna tried to help him down (can you imagine this? Kenna is 7 and probably 40 pounds soaking wet, Ian is almost her size but a few inches shorter) but he fell anyway. Ian landed pretty hard on his hands and needed 'a ginormous bandaid for my hurting hands' but settled for the ice that Kenna got for him.
Ok. I know that playing on the garage door is not the safest possible activity for my 3 year old, and shame on me for not watching them closer...but that's funny, no?
I asked Ian what lesson he learned from all of this, and he said, 'Don't accidentally push the garage button and hang from the door.'
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
News
Chasey news:Someone stands up all over the place now. On the rocker, the exersaucer, the kitchen chairs, the freezer, the nightstand, Ian's train table, even on the oven (flat surface!). He loves to do things he knows he's not supposed to, like dump the cat's water dish, beeline down the hallway toward the laundry room with the catbox (eww.), and steal Ian's favorite toys. He is getting good at putting coins in that playschool piggy bank toy, and tries to stack blocks by himself. He seems to be babbling more, and loudly at that. Oh, and he also got his first fat lip, courtesy of Ian who was trying to "help" him crawl under his legs (like freeze tag, Mommy!).
Eenie news:The first day of school is tomorrow, and swim lessons start up again next week, so maybe he won't be quite so bo-red around here anymore. He's starting to recognize more letters and is even doing some simple addition (I know I sound like a freak when I say that, but seriously, he says things like, "I have 1 plum and 2 more plums and 1 plus 2 is 3!") He has the cutest pair of Converse sneakers to wear tomorrow, and he's way excited about his new teacher, Ms. Krystal, who has monkeys everywhere in her room. He is also looking forward to when he is 17 so he can be a 'men' like Daddy and always use the mens room intsead of having to go into the girls' restroom.
Eenie news:The first day of school is tomorrow, and swim lessons start up again next week, so maybe he won't be quite so bo-red around here anymore. He's starting to recognize more letters and is even doing some simple addition (I know I sound like a freak when I say that, but seriously, he says things like, "I have 1 plum and 2 more plums and 1 plus 2 is 3!") He has the cutest pair of Converse sneakers to wear tomorrow, and he's way excited about his new teacher, Ms. Krystal, who has monkeys everywhere in her room. He is also looking forward to when he is 17 so he can be a 'men' like Daddy and always use the mens room intsead of having to go into the girls' restroom.
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