*Thankful Thursday*

This week, I'm thankful for:

{a friend's baby doing well, after a VERY scary start to life}

{time (last week) for an appointment and errands with just Tyler(and the patience to survive the afternoon)}

{one last snow day(hopefully) for the winter last week}

{my big boys being "responsible" enough to play outside the kitchen window by themselves while I make supper}

{a "snow castle" built by Kayden and Daddy}

{the start of Twins season!}

{melting snow}

{enough Pampers rewards points to "buy" Tyler's birthday present}

Good thing he's so tough!

Yesterday was Tyson's appointment with his doctor at the Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic.  His pediatrician referred us back there to try to get to the bottom of this ear infection problem he has. 

He was at the regular clinic last Wednesday, and his ears were not infected(he was still on his antibiotic at that time--finished it Friday). So, yesterday when Dr. Hanson looked in his ears, I expected them to look fine. Nope. Infected. Both of em.  One tube is blocked.

So, he is back on an antibiotic and ear drops, and will go back to the ENT next Friday.  The doctor said he will try to fix the problem first, but may end up needing to replace his tubes. 

I am assuming we'll be replacing the tubes, since it has been plugged once before, and was cleared, but is now plugged again. 

Poor little guy!

It's Baaaaaack!

Winter. 

We thought we were nearing the end. 

Then, Tuesday night, it came back. 

First sleet, then snow. A lot of snow.

I think we ended up with close to a foot.

Kayden and Daddy made the best of it.

They built a snow castle. 

Then, the next day, Tyler helped.

Maya was the "monster", and Kayden was going to save Tyler from her.

P.S.  Tyler and Maya aren't the best of buds.  She kinda rubs him (or licks him) the wrong way. 

Daddy's Eyes

Apparently Kayden did not inherit my perfect vision. 

At his preschool screening, they suggested that we have his eyes re-checked.  So, at his 4-year appointment, they checked his vision, the doctor recommended that we take him to an eye doctor.  

So, that appointment was Tuesday.  Since I have never been to an eye doctor before, I decided to take him to the same doctor Mike goes to.  

His appointment was at 3:45, and I assumed it would take maybe 30 minutes or so.  Boy was I wrong! We were there for over an hour.  What a process!  They must have done at least 20 different tests to check his eyes.  By the end of the appointment, he was literally falling asleep!  The doctor said it was because his eyes were dilated, and it was normal for that to make kids feel sleepy.  

I think they just wore him out!

The final result:

He does not need glasses.  For now.  He is a little far-sighted, but doc says that's normal for kids his age, and it may correct itself. Once he starts reading, we'll have to pay more attention to it, but for now he is fine.  Thank God!

He was such a trooper through the whole, long appointment.  He got to choose two prizes from the drawer at the eye clinic, and he got to get Skittles when we went to the drug store for Tyson's Tylenol! 

Not your regular trip to Target....

When Kayden was younger, I'd take him everywhere with me.  We used to go shopping all the time.  He'd ride around in the cart at Target while I browsed the aisles picking up all the things I needed, crossing things off my list.  He was happy just to people watch and hang with his mommy.  

So, Thursday, Tyler had a follow-up appointment at the ENT for his 1 year-post tubes check. So since his appointment was in the middle of the day, I had the whole day off.  I rarely spend time with just Tyler, so I thought it would be fun and I had plans to get.  stuff.  done. 

I thought we'd head to Target, then the doctor, then lunch, then a few other stops I needed to make, then home for a nap (if he didn't already take a nap in his stroller). 

OMG---things were not as easy as I remember them being with Kayden when he was Tyler's age.  All through Target, he yelled and pointed out every ball, puppy, dinosaur, car, everything.  When I didn't give him each of those things, he yelled louder, and sometimes even added tears.  I was constantly handing him "stuff", and then slyly taking it away and putting it on random shelves throughout the store so that I didn't have to buy it. 

By the time we got to the check-out line, his patience was gone.  He spotted a little cup of "Teddy Grahams". So, I grabbed it, opened it up, and gave it to him to keep him semi-quiet.  You all know what happened next.  He dumped the whole thing on the floor (except for about ten little teddies left in the bottom).  This, before I even paid for it.  So, by the time the cashier scanned it, I was paying a dollar for an empty container and listening to an almost-two-year-old yell and whine because he wanted the ones that were all over the floor.  

I paid for our stuff, talked Tyler into putting his coat on and headed out the door.  

We got to the car, I unloaded all of our bags into the back, then went to put Tyler in his seat, and found a $5.99 package of wipes sitting next to him in the cart.  Uh Oh.  

I know I should have gone back in to pay for them, but I was exhausted.  I couldn't do it.  That would have meant, taking Tyler  back into the store, where he would surely have spotted something that he needed, then proceeded to throw another fit.  I couldn't.  

So, Target, I'm sorry.  I stole some wipes.  But it was an accident.  

I won't give you the details of the doctor appointment, our lunch date with Grammy, or our trip to Old Navy and JCPenney.  I will just tell you the stinker fell asleep in his stroller, and took a three hour nap. I was able to move him from his stroller to the car and from the car to his bed, all while he stayed sleeping. 

What a week!

It has been a strange week in the Frericks household.  

It started Tuesday morning when I got a text from our daycare provider that Tyson was coughing, wheezing and his temp was 100.6.  

So, I told her to let me know if things got worse, or if she wanted me to come get him early.  I didn't hear from her again, but I decided to call our pediatrician, just to find out if she wanted to see him, or if I should just increase his nebulizer treatments.  So, I left a message for her, and by lunchtime she called me back.  She asked a few questions and then decided that we should just increase his nebs.  

My mom picked the boys up for me that day and met me in Albany because I needed to take Kayden to the eye doctor.  

During Kayden's appointment, I got a text from my dad that I better stop and get some Tylenol for Tyson.  By the time I got to my parents' house, he was burning up and wheezing worse that ever!  I gave him some Tylenol, snuggled him for a bit and headed to my meeting.  

By the time I got back from my meeting, it was bedtime for the boys, so we got them in their pj's and gave Tyson his bottle, and headed for home.  When we got home, we did his nebulizer treatment.  

And so began night number one of zero sleep for Tyson and Mommy.  

It was rough. 

He was miserable.  He gets sick a lot, but he is always still a happy baby, so I knew things were bad when he wasn't smiling, and crawling around after his brothers. 

I had decided(I think around 3:00 a.m.) that I was going to call in sick on Wednesday, and take the poor baby to the clinic even though our doctor said she didn't need to see him.  I wanted, number one, to have someone else's opinion, and number two, I wanted someone to listen to his breathing since it was worse than any other time.  

5:30 a.m. my cell phone rang, to tell me that due to a March snowstorm in lovely Minnesota, school was closed for the day.  Perfect.  Saves me a sick day.  

So, after the boys were all awake, I got Kayden and Tyler to Sharon's and Tyson and I braved the storm, and headed to the clinic.  

To my surprise, we were one of two families in the usually over-flowing walk-in clinic waiting room.  (Fun tid-bit:  the only other child in the waiting room was named Tyson too)

They called us back, and started a nebulizer treatment right away.  

By the time the doctor came in, his breathing was sounding better already, but she did order a chest x-ray and a flu test, just to be sure.  

If your kids have ever had a chest x-ray, you know how miserable that whole procedure is, and this was his second one in a month!

So, eventually, we were sent home with instructions to continue his nebulizer treatments, and Tylenol for his fever.  If things aren't better within 3 days, we should go back.  

I later got a call that the flu test was negative, and as far as the chest x-ray, I'm assuming no news is good news.  

On a good note---his ears were not, I repeat, NOT INFECTED! This could be due to the fact that he was currently on an anti-biotic....=)

By Tuesday night Tyson was better already.  It's amazing what the nebulizer can do. He still isn't sleeping at night, but we'll keep working on that.  

His pediatrician also put him on an "Asthma Action Plan".  She has diagnosed him with "asthma due to infection".  So, basically, when ever he gets a cold, his asthma kicks in. 

Who are you????????

I'm curious.  

91 people viewed my blog in a day. 

91.  

Who are you?  

There are little, yellow dots all over my map.  

Places in the U.S.  

Places around the world. 

I know some of you.  

But---who are the rest of you?  

Comment.  

Tell me who you are.  

Better yet, follow me.  

I assume most of you aren't crazy creepers, but rather, very cool people. 

Come, follow me. 

It doesn't cost anything.  

You just have to have a google account.  

If you don't have one,  

Create one. 

All the cool people are doing it!

How to piss off your mommy (and make her laugh a little)

Step 1: While taking a bath, splash like a mad-man getting the floor soaked.  

Step 2:  Just after your mommy gets the floor dried, proceed to splash and soak it again.  

Step 3: Refuse to get out of the tub and squirm like a worm while your mom is trying to lift you out, causing her to almost drop you on the floor. 

Step 4:  Yell and try to escape the entire time your mom is trying to put your diaper and pajamas on.  

Step 5:  After you finally have your pajamas on, run away (while your mom assumes you are in the toy room playing) and then proceed to get back in the bathtub with your pajamas on and continue to play with your brother and the toys like this is the normal thing to do. 

Step 6:  Smile for a picture. 

~~Thankful Thursday~~

This week, I'm thankful for:

~~a great girl's weekend away, and the fact that I was able to get lots of scrapping done(I'm by no means caught up,but I did get a lot done)

~~a clean bill of health for Kayden at his *tear* FOUR year well child check *sniffle*

~~a referral back to the ENT for Tyson to see his ear surgeon so that we can hopefully finally get his ears figured out!

~~sunshine and warm temperatures

~~wet--I mean really wet, like pour the water out, too wet for the boot dryer wet--boots after daycare yesterday because Kayden had so much fun playing outside, splashing in the puddles at daycare 

~~being able to send Kayden and Tyler downstairs by themselves to play/watch a movie while I make supper the past few nights. It's been so peaceful!

~~Tyson's little semi-natural mo-hawk (I will have to post pictures of this)

~~Kodak fixing my piece of crap camera for FREE!  Hopefully eliminating the "piece of crap" part of it's title. 

Prayers

**I pray that the right buyer comes along (sooner rather than later) and we can sell our house

**I pray that my friend who has been trying for a long time to have a baby has success in the baby-making department (sooner rather than later)

**I pray that my kids can get and stay healthy

           **This includes getting Tyson's ears figured out(sooner rather than later)

**I pray that my brother marries his girlfriend(sooner rather than later)  =)

       **I am about 80% sure he doesn't read my blog, if he does, he's probably going to kill me(but I'm willing to take that risk)  =) 

**I pray that I can make the right decision (sooner rather than later)about where to work in the fall

Just another trip to the clinic

I'm pretty sure the Target pharmacists and I are officially on a first-name basis.  It seems like I am there at least once a week for prescriptions for someone in my family. 

Yesterday I was at the clinic.  Kayden had his 4-year well-child check, and Tyson was there to have his ears and lungs re-checked.  

Let's start with Tyson. Dr. Peitso listened to his lungs, and decided that we should keep him on his nebulizer "until the lilacs bloom". That's like, May.  Ugh.  

Then, she looked in his ears.  Left ear, perfect.  Wahoo!  Right ear, waxy. She cleaned it out.  Behind all that wax?  Wait for it:::::: ear infection!  WTF???  Seriously!  So, she is treating him with drops and an anti-biotic, and referred us back to his doctor at the ENT.  It's getting a bit ridiculous.  I can't wait to see his doctor at the ENT, and see what he has to say.  

Then, there was Kayden.  When he went in for his 3-year appointment, he didn't cooperate for his hearing or vision check, and didn't even let them weigh him or measure his height. So, I had been preparing him for this appointment for the past week or so.  We talked about the doctor checking how big he is, testing his hearing and vision, and maybe shots. I was pretty sure she had told me last year that he wouldn't need shots at his four year appointment, but I wasn't making any promises because I know how things can change.  

So, first stop was the little room for his hearing and vision check.  He had done both of these at his pre-school screening, and had cooperated, so I was hoping he'd do ok. 

**side note:  at his preschool screening, they had suggested I have his vision re-checked, so I was curious what they were going to come up with at this appointment**

After some brief instruction, he did great on his hearing test.  Then, the woman explained the vision test to him and got him started.  He held the little pirate-patch-looking thing over his left eye, and recognized all of the shapes. Then he moved it to his right eye.  He did fine on the bigger shapes, but once she got a little further into the test, we noticed him peeking out from behind the little eye cover.  The woman reminded him to keep his eye covered, and he said, "But mommy, I can't see if I do that"::Uh oh::

So, we had him cover his eye and do his best.  Once he kept his eye covered, he had trouble recognizing the shapes.  She said she'd let the doctor know, and then we'd decide if he should be seen by an eye doctor. 

Next, we met with his regular doctor.  They had him put on a little hospital gown(way cute, but apparently not very cool, because he immediately wanted his blanket to cover up his exposed legs--whatev).  She checked his ears, eyes, tummy, breathing, etc.  Everything looked fine.  The only "concern" was that based on his weight and height measurements (39 pounds and 39 inches) he is "almost in the zone of overweight".  WTF??????  Are you serious?  So, quick lecture on giving him skim milk and healthy snacks.  I listened, but pretty much let that go in one ear and out the other. He is by no means overweight! I am still in shock over it, but whatev(again). I could go on for days about this, but I'm not going to let it bother me,and I'm just going to forget she ever said it.  

The doctor mentioned that he could get all of his kindergarten shots today.  I think the total would have been like five or six shots.  I told her that I hadn't really prepared him for shots, so I thought doing all of them might be a bit much.  We decided to do two shots and wait until his 5 year appointment for the rest.  So, out goes doctor, in comes 2 nurses for shots. This is where I got a little nervous.  I wasn't real sure how he was going to take this.  But, I laid him up on the exam table, talked to him and held his arms while he got one shot in each thigh, and believe it or not::::NO TEARS!  I couldn't believe it!  He did awesome!  

Once the shots were done, we packed up and headed out the door, since I had to get Tyson home and get Kayden to school.  
So, since we were REALLY short on time I took my apparently overweight kid through the McDonald's drive through, and we were on our way.  What?  I got him apples instead of fries.  Geez. 

Thankful Thursday

This week I'm thankful for:

***An upcoming girls weekend!  Scrapbooking, chatting, eating, laughing, eating....can't wait!

***A Grandma, a Grammy, and a Daddy who were able to work watching my boys this week into their schedules.  

***A husband who hasn't complained once about me leaving for the weekend

***Will power and a little self discipline (which I normally lack)which have helped me eat better, and eat less over the past two weeks.

***An afternoon trip ALONE to Crafts Direct and Target---lovely, I tell you.  Lovely.  

***Chubby baby giggles

***One and a half more months of bottles in my house!  I've been mixing/washing bottles for two straight years!

Ash Wednesday

I've been thinking about what I will give up for Lent this year.  It's been a while since I've actually given something up for the season.  Mostly because three out of the past four Lenten seasons, I've been pregnant.  

This year, I've been putting thought into it.  I know what I should give up, and I know what I might give up.  But what will I give up?

I should give up pop.  It's bad for me, and I drink a lot of it.  If I want to get rid of this blasted baby weight, I should stop drinking it.  BUT, it's my drug.  It's my "cold coffee". I feel like I need it.  

I might  give up a lot of things.  Maybe eating between meals.  Maybe chocolate.  Maybe chips.  Maybe eating out for lunch.  

Now, I just have to decide what I will give up.  

Are you giving anything up? 

Is it really about giving something up?
Sometimes it's more about what you will do rather than what you won't  do. I know that I will be more patient with my boys.  I will take time to appreciate what others do for my family and I, and thank them.  I will try to slow life down a little, and enjoy the little things.  

The time has come

Tyson has never been a sleeper.  I think I've written about 532 posts about it.  Then, in January, I finally took a couple nights to let him "cry it out", and it worked.  He was sleeping better.  Then, he got sick, and got teeth.  He's been sick in some form for a while now.  When he was sick or teething, and he'd wake up at night I would get up with him, because let's face it: when you're not feeling good, you just want your mommy.  So I'd get up with him, feed him, snuggle him, even sometimes ::gasp:: bring him in our bed.  

Now, he's on the mend.  Not really sick.  BUT, he's not sleeping.  He's back in the habit of waking up at least once every night.  So, soon, very soon, I will be doing it again.  I will have to take a couple nights, send my husband and my bigger kids somewhere else, and I'll have to let him cry.  It's painful at the time, but soooooooooooooooo  worth it in the end.  Maybe I'll let Mike do it this time????

A daycare-less week

Our daycare is on vacation this week.  This means the boys get to spend some extra time at home, but it also means we've had to enlist the help of the grandma's to take care of them while Mike and I are at work. So, Mike's mom is with them today and tomorrow, Mike is off Wednesday, so he'll be home with them, then Thursday they'll go to Grammy's(my mom's), and Friday I had taken a personal day since I'm going on a scrapbooking weekend this weekend, so I'll be home with them in the morning, and when I leave around noon, they'll go back to Grammy and Grandpa's.  

As fun as it is for them to be able to spend some extra time with their grandparents, I know, that by next Monday, they will be SO ready to go back to Sharon's and back to routine. 
Also, a HUGE-NORMOUS thanks to the Grandmas for helping out this week.  I don't know what we would do without them!!!

A bowling birthday!*pictures to come*

We celebrated Kayden's fourth birthday at the  bowling alley on Sunday. We go there around 2:30, go things set up and then his "friends" starting arriving.  We celebrated with my family and Mike's family.  Total, there were 15 adults and the five kids. We started with a few snacks, and chatting, then headed to the lanes for some bowling. We all kind of helped the little kids bowl, and at the same time had an adult game of bowling happening one lane over. Everyone seemed to have fun, we took some pictures, then headed back to the party room to have pizza.  

While we were bowling, Mike snuck Kayden's present from us into the building. It was a shiny new bike!  When Kayden finally made his way into the room, he walked up to it and checked it out, like he was waiting for someone to tell him it really was for him. He loved it!  It's a little big for him, but I think once spring comes--if it ever comes--and he can get outside to ride it, it will work just fine. 

After pizza and cupcakes(green cupcakes with blue frosting, per Kayden's request) we let him open the rest of his presents.  He got lots of cool things.  

When he was done opening his presents, we started cleaning up and chatted for a little while, then headed for home.  When we got home, Kayden and Tyler spent an hour or so playing with/fighting over all of Kayden's new loot.  Joy.