In a childs mind...

Yesterday Zach and I thought it would be fun to take the kids to a hockey game. The fire station that Zach works for is very involved in raising money for MDA. MDA was a big part of the hockey game last night. They had a bunch of local firefighters in their bunker gear collecting money by "Filling the Boot". Gracie was super excited to see all the firemen and got lots of stickers, but could not find her daddy...even when he was standing right in front of her...calling her name. She has seen Zach a million times in his work uniform, but never in his bunker gear. Anyway, the entire way to the hockey game Gracie kept asking about the "Froggie game". She wanted to know all about it. It took me forever to figure out that she was talking about the HOCKEY game! I tried explaining to her that it was a bunch of big boys on ice skates playing a game, but she didn't get it. I finally gave up when we got to the parking lot. She got so excited because she finally figured out what we were doing! We were seeing Little Einsteins! We weren't. A few years ago I took her to this same arena to see Little Einsteins, she thought they lived there. As we got closer to the entrance she saw all the firemen, she wasn't sure what to do with that information. We finally got in, got to our seats and started to watch the game. Gracie's eyes were HUGE for about the first 5 minutes...then she was over it. She wanted popcorn. Daddy took her to get her popcorn, but once in hand she decided she wanted a cookie. So daddy took her for a cookie, on the other side of the coliseum. They got their cookie, popcorn, and pop and made their way back to the seat. Gracie then realized that lots of people had glow sticks...yes, daddy took her out for glow sticks. Then she had to go to the bathroom. You see where this is going right?! She's 4. Jake on the other hand said his hello's to all his loving admirers and promptly fell asleep before the 1st period even started. And stayed asleep for almost all of the game. That is some heavy sleeping! Thank God we had Grandpa with us! He got to enjoy bits and pieces of the game, hold a sleeping Bubba, and take Ms Gracie Lu for a lap around the coliseum. Once we were all piled into the car I asked Gracie if she had fun, she said, "Ya, it was ok...but I never saw a game". LOL.

Feeling a little sheepish

Remember a few posts ago how I was talking about waiting for that ball to drop again? It hasn't...don't worry! For the last few days Jake has been feeling less than stellar. My normally happy, go lucky little boy has done nothing but scream and whimper for at least the last 48 hours. He quit taking his "like clock work" naps during the day, and is up every few hours at night. My first thought was that he was teething, but after 3 days of constant misery and massive amounts of Tylenol and teething tablets I finally gave up and took him to his doctor. Zach and I were pretty sure he had a ear infection. A ear infection was the only thing we could come up with as to why he was SO cranky. He's had them once before and acted the same way...only at the time we didn't know he had them. So I took Jake in to see his doctor today, only to be told that his ears looked great...he's cutting lots of big teeth! You can imagine my mixed feelings on this! Felt a little stupid, but VERY there isn't anything wrong. So that HUGE ball that I keep waiting to drop...is getting smaller by the doctor visit!

Vent time...

So this may seem random, but this is EXACTLY what MY blog is for. For me to vent and say the things I am feeling and need/want to say. I follow a few other blogs everyday, and I have learned some things that I will and will not do as far as blogging. I will NEVER say something negative on someones blog...because it is THEIR blog. But I will say what I want to say on MY blog...about something I read on someones blog! How's that?! LOL. Anyway, another blog that I follow ever day is a Down Syndrome blog. The topic of conversation right now is Early Intervention programs. We love ours! And from reading what a few other people had to say about theirs...for good reason. We are working with great people and have been able to get Jake pretty much as much therapy as we wanted, from birth. Unfortunately, that is not the case for others in different states. I felt heart broken for one mom who was told her child wasn't ready for speech therapy at 18 months (I think it was 18 months). And I told her to keep looking and gave her words of encouragement...positive words. Then someone else posted about their EI, and did not have real good things to say about it. Which is fine, that is what the topic is about, and that is what the blogger wants to know from her followers. The blogger also asked what our pros and cons are about our EI program. I said the pros are endless (because they are) and I could see no cons, because what con is there for any kind of extra help outside of our daily lives...right? I will take all the help I can get for Jake, because I want everything for him. I don't ever want to look back and feel like I should have done more and I could have done more. Anyway, the person I was just talking about went on to say what her pro was (I don't even remember because I'm so taken back by her con), and her con was (word for word) "
The cons are the constant interruptions to the flow of our family life." I had to put that word for word because I wanted to see if I am just tire and being overly sensitive about this comment, or if that really is just selfish. Please be honest and tell me...I need to know. HOW can anything that has to do with getting a child with special needs improvements in their life be considered a "interruption"? I don't get it. Ya it's work, but what isn't? Does this person consider the things she has to do for her other children (if she has any, I don't know because I don't know her) a "constant interruption? Grrr...momma bears fur is standing up right about now. I was about to make a comment on the other blog and remembered that it is not my place to make those kinds of comments..ON SOMEONES BLOG. But it is VERY ok to do so on mine! And you are very welcome to make any kind of comment on my blog that you would like...because if I don't like what you have to say, I'll delete it! LOL! Just kidding. I won't, but I may not respond back! Good night friends!

Apparently a few of you out there are in need of some kind of "Jakey update", so I'll fill ya in on what's he is doing right about now...

*He will be 18 months old in 16 days. Last week, he weighed 19.4 lbs.
*He has 7 teeth in and is working on his 8th.
*He eats EVERYTHING. And signs & says something that sounds like "more". He screams when he is done.
*He drinks from a sippy cup and can eat off a fork, if something is placed on it.
*He knows about 10-15 signs, most of which he uses. The only words he really says verbally is Dada and Momma.
*He just learned to sit up on his own from a lying position. He is seconds away from crawling.
*He can pull himself up to a standing position from a sitting position, but has not figured out how to get back down...without a bump on the head.
*He now takes baths in the bath tub with sister...and loves to splash and scream.
*He sleeps thru the night..yeahh!
*He can still be calmed by singing Twinkle twinkle little star...I thought that would have worn off by now.
*He LOVES to hug and snuggle strangers. Anyone. Today, it was the sales lady at Hallmark. Last week, the Wal Mart greeter.
*He and Gracie have a secret sibling contest to see who can make a bigger mess in the smallest amount of time. It's a tie.

Still here...

Sorry for the lack of blogging the last few days, but oddly enough...WE HAVE NOTHING GOING ON! Well, nothing really worth blogging about anyway! Here is what we have been up to...

Zach & I started the Dave Ramsey budget. It's been...ok. Interesting to listen to, not too bad to set up, nothing real life shattering. It did make us realize how much money we unnecessarily spend though.

In June we are going to Florida to spend 9 days with my brother, niece, and his girlfriend. We are excited to spend a few days at Disney World. We think Gracie is going to be at the perfect age!! Zach & I are also planning on leaving the kids for a night and heading out on our own. After our last year and a half, mommy & daddy need a little down time!

Gracie just came down with Croup last night...if you read my blog often, you will remember Jake had it about a week ago. Hmmm... But she seems to feel good during the day for the most part.

Jake is nice and healthy! It still feels odd to say that! I had him weighed this week & he is almost at 20 lb!! 19.4 to be exact! YES, my 17 month old boy is under 20 lbs. There WILL be cake when he hits 20 lbs!!

There has been talk (not by me) of getting a bunny. Shawn (my brother) and I had a bunny once...then we had it for dinner. Short version of a terribly traumatic, heart breaking story of a girl and a boy, and their pet rabbit...it was cold outside, my mom thought putting a knitted blanket in it's cage would be a good idea, the bunny ate the blanket...died. Dad cooked the bunny up. End of story! So remind me again why I might want my kids to have a bunny?! LOL...Just kidding mom & dad! I really honestly don't remember anymore than having a bunny, then we didn't! But it's fun to poke at you! I found Gracie a chocolate bunny at the store today...she promptly bit the head off...hmmm. LOL

Have a good weekend everyone!

A girl and her vacuum

"Oh mommy...a vacuum just my size"

"Let me show you how it works"

"See mom, see, it sucks the stuff right up in there"

She vacuumed the ENTIRE rug this way!

Just a cute picture of my Gracie Lulu

"All done"

I just have to get it out...

Jaimi & Nathan are having TWINS!!

Yahh!!! Congratulations friend! Way to get it all done at once! I'm right around the corner (literally) if you need a extra set of hands!